10 Manipur Kuki-Zo MLAs urge Govt for peace roadmap amid President’s rule

The President’s Rule was imposed following chief minister N Biren Singh’s resignation on February 9, as the ruling BJP failed to find a successor

Published on: Feb 16, 2025, 14:45:41 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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GUWAHATI: The government should lay out a comprehensive political roadmap for peace and justice in Manipur, said 10 Kuki-Zo-Hmar member of the legislative assembly (MLAs) on Sunday, days after President’s rule was imposed following chief minister N Biren Singh’s resignation on February 9, as the ruling BJP failed to find a successor.

The Centre imposed President’s Rule on Thursday, placing the state assembly in suspended animation (HT photo)

The Centre imposed President’s rule on Thursday, placing the state assembly in suspended animation. The move was opposed by Meitei organisations based in Imphal Valley while Kuki-Zo groups termed it as a necessary intervention which was long overdue.

Also Read: Prez Rule imposed in violence-hit Manipur

“We, the 10 MLAs of Manipur, while acknowledging the Centre’s decision to place the assembly under suspended animation express hope that the Government of India would lay out a comprehensive political roadmap for peace and justice under a negotiated settlement,” read a statement issued by the legislators, which was accessed by HT.

The ethnic violence between the Meiteis, who are a majority in Imphal Valley, and the Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities who are predominant in several hill districts have claimed at least 260 lives and displaced around 60,000 persons from both sides in the past 21 months.

Since the outbreak of violence in May 2023, the 10 legislators --- seven from the BJP, two from Kuki Peoples Alliance (KPA) and one Independent --- have been demanding a separate administration for the areas in Manipur where people from the Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities are predominant.

Also Read: Manipur violence: What is the President’s rule?

“We also look forward to time-bound measures to end the sufferings that the conflict affected, and internally displaced people continue to undergo,” the release added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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