Meitei, Kuki groups stand firm on demands but remain optimistic ahead of meeting in New Delhi

Guwahati: Groups representing the Meitei and the Kuki communities in strife-torn Manipur remained firm on their demands but sounded optimistic about a "breakthrough" in their first joint meeting in New Delhi on Saturday, April 5.

Leaders representing both the communities left for New Delhi separately on Friday to take part in the meeting to be chaired by officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Meitei delegation took the flight from Imphal, while the eight-member Kuki-Zo delegation had to travel to Dimapur in Nagaland to catch the flight for New Delhi. The two communities have avoided each other's areas since the conflict erupted in May 2023.

"We hope that there will be some sort of cessation of hostilities after this meeting," Chairman of Kuki Zo Council (KZC), the apex body of several Kuki-Zo communities, who left for New Delhi, told DH. Four leaders of KZC and two each from Zomi Council and Hmar Inpi comprised the Kuki-Zo delegation.

Leaders of All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) and Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) comprised the Meitei delegation, sources said.

There is a lot of hope from the meeting as the two communities would be meeting for the first time. Efforts in the past for a joint meeting did not materialise. MHA officials leaders of both the communities in Manipur separately in March, days after the President's rule was promulgated.

Firm on stand

All eyes will be on how the Centre conducts the meeting as both sides have remained firm on their demands. Kukis are firm about cessation of violence only if the government agrees to begin talks on their demand for a "separate administration," while Meiteis are opposed to it.

Meiteis, sources told DH, would press for maintaining territorial integrity of the state and implementing NRC in order to detect "illegal Chin Kuki migrants." The Meiteis also demand abrogation of the Suspension of Operation Agreement with the Kuki insurgent groups.

Manipur has remained on the boil since the conflict involving the two communities erupted in May 2023. More than 260 people have died and over 60,000 others have been displaced due to the conflict. The President's rule was imposed on February 13 after the N Biren Singh government resigned to pave the way for ending the conflict.