MHA calls meeting of Kuki-Meitei groups in New Delhi on April 5 to end conflict in Manipur

Representing the Meitei side, two influential CSOs---the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO) and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS), Manipur have confirmed their participation in the meeting.

The AMUCO President Pheiroijam Nando Luwang told reporters in Imphal that the organisation had received a verbal invitation from the MHA. “We are taking part in the meeting. From our side, we will also present the aspirations of the people of Manipur, especially the collective desire to safeguard the territorial integrity of the state,” he said.

A three-member AMUCO delegation led by Nando Luwang is also set to travel to the national capital on Friday. Reiterating the stand of the organisation, he said, “We will make it clear during the meeting that no baseless claim can be a justification for breaking the territorial integrity of Manipur. Our stand remains unchanged.”

Similarly, the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) will also send a three-member delegation. A senior leader of FOCS said that their participation aims to reinforce the spirit of

unity and oneness among the people of Manipur. “This is an issue that concerns the entire state. We are going to stand firmly for the integrity of Manipur,” he said.

Security sources while confirming the meeting said that the MHA has invited several other prominent Meitei organisations, including the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and the United Committee Manipur (UCM), to join the meeting with the Kuki Zo CSOs. Both AMUCO and FOCS delegations are scheduled to leave Imphal on Friday for the meeting in New Delhi.

The Kuki organisations on Tuesday met at Kangpokpi in Manipur, in which it decided to send a delegation for the meeting on April 5.

It is significant a similar attempt by the MHA in 2024 had failed to materialise after the Kuki organisations refused to meet the Meitei leaders. The fresh invitation came days after MHA advisor for the Northeast, AK Mishra, met the Meitei and the Kuki leaders separately in Manipur recently.

The Kuki Zo Council, an apex body of the Kuki-Zo organisations, on Tuesday decided to present its demands in the meeting. Its demands include opposition to the Centre's move for "free movement" of the Meiteis through the Kuki dominated areas and to announce a "ceasefire" up to one year to facilitate talks regarding their demand for a "separate administration".