Meitei and Kuki MLAs from Manipur set to hold peace talks in Delhi tomorrow

Since the ethnic clashes in Manipur began on May 3, 2023, ten tribal MLAs, including some ministers, have left the state capital. They are currently living in Delhi, Guwahati, and Kolkata due to safety concerns. In a significant development, Meitei and Kuki MLAs are set to meet for peace talks in New Delhi on Tuesday. This meeting will be the first of its kind since the clashes broke out.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will supervise these talks, and Naga MLAs will also help mediate the discussions. For the past ten months, Naga MLAs have met separately with Meitei and Kuki MLAs in neutral locations like Kolkata and Guwahati. This meeting aims to bring the Kuki and Meitei MLAs together under one roof to discuss the ongoing conflict.

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An official from the state government reported that many MLAs have already arrived in Delhi, while others are expected to join soon. The official mentioned that it is unclear how many Kuki MLAs will attend, but they have been assured that representatives from all communities will be present.

MLAs avoiding Manipur

The tribal MLAs have cited threats to their lives as the reason for staying away from Imphal, the capital of Manipur. They have avoided attending their offices or the state assembly and have opted for a safer route when returning to the state. When they do visit, they fly to Aizawl, Mizoram, and then travel to the hill districts of Manipur by road.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated on September 17 that the MHA is in talks with both communities to restore normalcy in the state. The situation in Manipur remains tense and divided along ethnic lines, with the Meitei community residing in the valley districts and the Kuki community returning to the hill districts. Over 200 people have lost their lives in the clashes between these two groups.