Meetei, Kuki MLAs' New Delhi talk on Oct 15
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 13 2024: In pursuance of the steps initiated by the Central government to bring back peace in Manipur after more than one and half years of the May 3, 2023 violence, MLAs belonging to both Meetei and Kuki communities are set to hold parleys on October 15 in New Delhi to break the stalemate.

As per a reliable source, the process for holding peace negotiation was taken up by the Ministry of Affairs under the keen initiative of Union home minister Amit Shah.

The source even named some MLAs belonging to both the warring communities who are scheduled to take part in the peace talk and steps being taken up by the Central government to resolve the crisis permanently taking the issue as critically serious.

Meetei MLAs likely to take part the peace talk are speaker Th Satyabrata, works minister K Govindas, agriculture minister Th Biswajit, Thanga MLA T Robindro, and Heirok MLA Th Radheshyam.

Kuki MLAs likely to attend the New Delhi meeting are horticulture minister Letpao Haokip, Saitu MLA Haokholet Kipgen and Saikot MLA Paolienlal Haokip, the source said adding that some more MLAs are also likely to join the dialogue process.

Meanwhile, speaker Th Satyabrata and Thanga MLA T Robindro left Imphal for New Delhi on Sunday as more ministers and MLAs who are to attend the peace talk are likely to depart for New Delhi on Monday.

It is learnt that RD & PR minister Y Khemchand would be leaving Imphal for the national on Monday but it is not clear whether or not the New Delhi trip is connected to the peace talk.

Notably, Union home minister Amit Shah had during the celebration event on completion of 100 days of the formation of BJP-led government at the Centre said that the Centre has been working to resolve the violence in Manipur.

During the event, he contended that the violence in Manipur had significantly subsided and will be able to contain the same effectively.

He had also claimed that talks with representatives of both the warring communities have started while cautioning that the violence cannot be resolved without holding dialogue.

For lasting peace in the state, different programmes under a road-map will be chalked out and taken up, Amit Shah had said in the event.

Notably, the more than one and half year old violence has claimed the lives of more than 200 people with over 60,000 people rendered homeless and languishing in relief camps across the state.

Villagers whose houses were torched during the peak of the violence are still unable to return to their respective villages.

However, there has been fewer reports of firing between two warring communities in the fringe villages.

Accordingly, the initiative being taken up by the Centre to call up representatives of both the warring communities at New Delhi and hold talk is seen as the first step towards bringing back peace in the troubled state.

Apart from sit-in demonstrations and protest rallies to denounce failure by both government in the state and at New Delhi in ending the crisis, the Manipur conflict took centre stage at a side event during the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held in Geneva.

The session, titled 'Manipur Crisis and Human Rights Situation in the Western South-East Asia (WESEA) Region', brought together activists and academics from India and Bangladesh to discuss the over 500-day long crisis in the region.

The event was moderated by visiting professor at UK's Aston University Elangbam Bishwajeet.

Panellists included working president of the International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA) Khuraijam Athouba, associate professor of DM University Arambam Noni, advisor to the Swiss-Bangladesh Women Association Dilara Malique and prominent human rights defender Punam Duhotia.

The discussion underscored the need for a balanced approach to address human rights concerns in the region.

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