Centre Hosts First Joint Peace Talks Between Meitei and Kuki Leaders Since Manipur Violence Began
HY News
06 April, 2025 10:05 am IST
Text Size:
In a breakthrough effort to resolve the ethnic conflict in Manipur, the Centre on Saturday successfully brought civil society leaders from the Meitei and Kuki communities together for joint peace talks — the first such meeting since violence erupted in the state in May 2023.
The high-level dialogue, held in the national capital, was attended by senior officials from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), including government interlocutor A.K. Mishra, a retired special director of the Intelligence Bureau. Terming the meeting a “significant step forward,” sources said this was the first time leaders from both communities shared the negotiating table, following nearly two years of separate discussions.
A six-member delegation representing Meitei civil society included members of the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO) and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS). The Kuki side was represented by nine delegates.
Sources familiar with the discussions said the focus was on rebuilding trust, fostering cooperation, and outlining a roadmap for restoring normalcy in the strife-torn northeastern state. The meeting also emphasized the need to maintain law and order and promote reconciliation between the two ethnic groups.
The development follows Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent statement in Parliament where he confirmed that the MHA had earlier held separate meetings with Meitei and Kuki leaders. Shah had also assured that a joint session would be convened soon to address the ongoing crisis.
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!
Subscribe our newsletter to stay updated
Leave Comments