Manipur: Kuki-Zo MLAs seek political roadmap for peace; Sambit Patra slammed over 'territorial integrity' comments

Guwahati: Days after President's rule was promulgated in strife-torn Manipur, 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs on Sunday urged the Centre to lay out a "comprehensive political roadmap" for peace and justice under a negotiated settlement.

In a statement, the MLAs---seven belonging to the ruling BJP and three to its ally Kuki People's Alliance (KPA) said, "We, the 10 MLAs of Manipur, while acknowledging the Centre’s decision to place the assembly under suspended animation express hope that the Government of India would lay out a comprehensive political roadmap for peace and justice under a negotiated settlement.”

The MLAs, who have been maintaining distance from the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley and the Assembly since the Meitei-Kuki conflict began in May 2023, also sought time-bound measures to end the sufferings that the conflict affected, and internally displaced people continue to undergo.

The MLAs earlier extended their support to the demand by Kuki-Zo organisations for a "separate administration" but the statement on Sunday did not speak about the demand.

Kuki groups slam Sambit Patra

Kuki People's Alliance (KPA) and Kuki Zo Council, an apex body of Kuki-Zo organisations issued separate statements criticising BJP leader Sambit Patra's statement that the ruling party is committed about maintaining territorial integrity of Manipur.

Referring to Patra's statement, the KRA said BJP's premise about maintaining territorial integrity is based on false presumption about illegal migration. "The premise ignores the stark reality on the ground that Manipur is already a partitioned state." The KPA, which had withdrawn support from Biren Singh government in 2023, reaffirmed its stand about a separate administration for the community.

Kuki- Zo Council said Kukis are not separatists and the Meiteis separated them by killing and driving them out of Imphal on May 3, 2023.