For the first time since ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, Meitei and Kuki MLAs are reportedly set to meet in New Delhi. The meeting, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, will be overseen by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and mediated by Naga legislators. This long-delayed gathering raises critical questions about whether a meaningful resolution can emerge or if this initiative is yet another hollow gesture from the Centre to manage optics rather than address the crisis at its roots.
The ethnic violence in Manipur has deeply polarized the state, with over 200 lives lost and communities segregated along ethnic lines. The Meiteis have remained firm in their stance on protecting the territorial and administrative integrity of Manipur. On the other hand, the Kuki community has sought greater autonomy, with demand for a separate administrative setup or even Union Territory.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated on September 17 that the Centre has been engaging with both Meitei and Kuki representatives to restore peace. However, the question arises: why has it taken more than these many months for a formal meeting between the two sides to be initiated particularly when they all belong to BJP? This delay has cost Manipur dearly, with the social fabric torn apart and both communities entrenched in their respective demands.
The timing of the meeting has also sparked suspicion. Several civil society organizations, which play a crucial role in peace-building, have not been included in the process. In fact, earlier efforts by civil society groups to mediate were actively suppressed by various forces. With no public consultations or involvement of local stakeholders, this meeting risks becoming another top-down exercise that overlooks the complexities on the ground.
The central challenge lies in the irreconcilable demands of the two communities. Meitei legislators have remained steadfast in their commitment to safeguarding the territorial unity of Manipur, vehemently opposing any proposal for a separate state or autonomous region for the Kukis. On the other hand, the Kuki leadership views autonomy as non-negotiable, arguing that the violence has made coexistence impossible without administrative separation.
This clash of positions raises concerns about the Centre’s role in the process. Will the government in Delhi push the Meitei MLAs to concede autonomy to the Kukis? And if so, at what cost? Any compromise on territorial integrity will be fiercely resisted by the Meitei community, potentially exacerbating the unrest.
A significant question hanging over the meeting is whether it can yield tangible outcomes or merely serve as a symbolic gesture. With no indication of the agenda and doubts about Kuki participation, the meeting appears to lack the sincerity required for genuine dialogue.
The exclusion of civil society from this critical dialogue also reflects the Centre’s reluctance to engage meaningfully with grassroots voices. Civil society organizations have been instrumental in bridging divides in the past, but their exclusion from this process signals a missed opportunity to foster broader consensus.
While the planned meeting of Meitei and Kuki MLAs under the supervision of the MHA marks a long-overdue step, it comes with significant limitations. Without addressing the root causes of the conflict and involving civil society organisations, the talks risk being reduced to a mere formality. Peace in Manipur cannot be achieved through closed-door negotiations among political elites alone; it requires the inclusion of civil society, trust-building measures, and a willingness from all parties to engage in meaningful compromise.
The fundamental question remains: will the Centre act as a neutral facilitator, or will it impose solutions that further alienate one side? Manipur’s future depends not only on the outcome of this meeting but also on the sincerity of efforts to heal a deeply fractured state. The time for peace talks is long past due, but unless conducted with transparency and inclusiveness, they may serve only to widen the fault lines that divide the state.
Manipur’s Long-Awaited Peace Talks: An Exercise in Futility or a Silver lining?
100
previous post