Meitei, Kuki-Zo representatives hold first round of peace talks with MHA officials at New Delhi Proposal to open all highways meet with ‘need to consult people first’ from Kuki-Zo representatives

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 5 : For the first time since the violent crisis broke out on May 3, 2023, representatives of Meitei civil society organisations and Kuki-Zo representatives sat together and held a peace talk today face to face at New Delhi at the initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Six delegates, three each from AMUCO and FOCS, represented the Meitei side while eight delegates including six from Kuki-Zo Council and two from Zomi Council participated in the peace talk.
Three officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs including AK Mishra and IB Joint Director Rajesh Kamble took part in the talks.
The Government of Manipur was represented by Chief Secretary PK Singh and Additional DGP Asutosh Sinha.
After listening to both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo delegates, the MHA officials proposed declaration of a ceasefire between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo, and opening of all highways and roads to all sections of people to pave way for peace and a lasting solution to the protracted side.
While the Meitei delegates accepted the propo- sals made by the MHA officials, the Kuki-Zo delegates maintained they need to first consult with their ‘people’ before accepting the proposals.
Sources said that the MHA officials were not happy with this response of the Kuki-Zo delegates and their lack of cooperation to the peace initiative.
Even though both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo delegates agreed to hold more rounds of such peace talks, the Kuki-Zo delegates refused to sign the agreement, said the sources.  
According to the sources, the talks focused on building trust, easing tension and working out a roadmap to restore normalcy and establish peace in Manipur.
The discussions stressed on maintaining law and order and facilitating reconciliation between the two communities.
The sources said that the MHA officials emphasised on reconciliation between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities and maintenance of law and order.
The peace talk which started at 11 am went on till 4 pm with a lunch break in between.  
Ahead of the peace talk held today, Kuki-Zo leadership set three preconditions for cessation of hostilities between the two communities which included no movement of Meitei individuals in Kuki-Zo- dominated areas and vice versa, commencement of meaningful and structured dialogue for the cessation of hostility and observing the cessation of hostilities for a period of six months.
Earlier, during a debate on Manipur in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Ministry of Home Affairs held discussions with the representatives of Meitei and Kuki communities in the past.
He said separate meetings were also held with different organisations from both the communities.
"The Ministry of Home Affairs will soon convene a joint meeting," Mr Shah said, replying to a short debate in the lower house, which adopted a statutory resolution confirming the imposition of President's Rule in Manipur.
The Home Minister said while the Government is working to find a path to end violence, the top priority is to establish peace.
Mr Shah said the situation in Manipur is largely under control as there has been no death in the last four months, but it can't be considered satisfactory as displaced people are still living in relief camps.
President's Rule was imposed on February 13 after the then Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned on February 9.
The State Assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.
Over 260 people have been killed since ethnic violence broke out in May 2023.
Thousands of firearms were looted from police stations across Manipur during the initial phase of the conflict. Ajay Kumar Bhalla, who took charge as Governor on January 3, has been meeting a cross section of people and taking feedback from them on how to bring normalcy in the state.
Mr Bhalla, a former Union Home Secretary, who closely worked with Mr Shah for five years till August 2024, was hand-picked by the Home Minister and is said to have been tasked with restoring peace in the restive State.
After the imposition of President's Rule, the Governor has taken a number of steps to bring normalcy, including asking those who looted arms from security forces to surrender them.
The Central Government also tried to open the State's roads for normal traffic, though it did not work out well due to opposition from the Kukis.
Travel through areas inhabited by Meiteis or Kukis is completely prohibited for the other community. While Kukis travel mostly through Mizoram to go outside the State, the Meiteis do not go to some hill areas dominated by the Kukis.