Two Kuki-Zo MLAs Attend Manipur Assembly In Person For First Time Since 2023
Their Return To Imphal Assembly Seen As Step Towards Peace And Reconciliation
In a significant political development, two Kuki-Zo legislators on Wednesday physically attended a session of the Manipur Assembly in Imphal for the first time since ethnic violence erupted in the state in 2023.
MLAs Haokholet Kipgen and Kimneo Haokip Hangshing were present during the first sitting of the eighth session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Soon after entering the Assembly, Kipgen said he was happy to return and attend a session after a long time. Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen participated in the proceedings virtually.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh welcomed the two legislators, describing their presence as a positive step towards fostering unity and peace in the state.
“This is a good sign from people’s representatives, and a welcome step,” Singh said, adding that Manipur could move towards peace through collective efforts.
The Chief Minister attributed the development to the state government’s efforts to address and reduce the trust deficit among different communities. He reiterated his government’s commitment to inclusive dialogue and reconciliation.
Kuki-Zo MLAs had been participating in previous Assembly sittings virtually since the ethnic violence began on May 3, 2023.
Manipur currently has nine Kuki-Zo legislators. Another MLA, Vungzagin Valte, died earlier this year after prolonged illness linked to severe injuries sustained during a mob attack in Imphal in the initial days of the violence.
More than 250 people were killed and around 60,000 displaced during the Meitei-Kuki ethnic conflict.
While no major incident between the two communities has been reported since early this year, a fresh faultline involving Kukis and Nagas has emerged in the state since February. Several people have been killed and houses burnt in intermittent clashes between the communities.
