Manipur’s Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs planning huddle over next steps this week

Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson for the Kuki-Zo Council, a relatively recently-formed coalition of civil society organisations, said, “Whether Biren Singh resigned or not, the Kuki-Zo aspiration for a separate administration remains.” Photo: Facebook.com/gvualzong

With one of the top demands of Manipur’s Kuki-Zo community, that of N. Biren Singh’s removal as Chief Minister, materialising over the last two days, the State’s 10 Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs are now set to schedule a meeting within this week to discuss the way forward to end the crisis that began with the ethnic conflict on May 3, 2023.

While the 10 Kuki-Zomi-Hmar legislators, seven of whom are with the BJP, feel it will be tricky to arrive at a decision that “balances party discipline with what the people — constituents — want”, civil society leaders of the community have told The Hindu that amongst the people and themselves, there is “real concern” about how committed the MLAs might be to pressing for the demand of a separate administration.

Within days of the conflict breaking out and Meitei and Kuki-Zo people being sequestered to the Valley and hill areas respectively, the Kuki-Zo communities had asserted that “separation is only solution”, a demand that later solidified in the form of demanding a Union Territory with legislature for Kuki-Zo people under the Constitution.

One of the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs told The Hindu: “Within this week, we will convene a meeting to discuss what next. But it will be a little tricky because many of the MLAs will have to balance party discipline with what their people want.” A civil society leader added that Kuki-Zo civil society organisations and the Suspension of Operation groups are steadfast in their demand for a separate administration.

While civil society organisations have so far shown no indication of issuing any formal statement after Mr. Singh’s resignation, Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson for the Kuki-Zo Council, a relatively recently-formed coalition of civil society organisations, said on X, “Whether Biren resigned or not, the Kuki-Zo aspiration for a separate administration remains.”

“We have been killed, plundered, driven out, and rendered homeless by the Meiteis. There is no returning; separation is the only solution. Only a political solution can redeem the Kuki-Zo,” added Mr. Vualzong, who was part of the KZC delegation that met with Home Ministry officials last month and is also associated with Churachandpur-based Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF).

However, some civil society leaders have pointed out that with Mr. Singh out of the CM’s post, the legislators behaviour will be unpredictable and the impact of this on the future of the demands of the Kuki-Zo people is uncertain.

“Many of these legislators have had a history of having been close to the establishment. It is a real concern among the people if all the legislators are as committed to sustain the demand for a U.T. with legislature amidst their politicking,” said the leader, who wished to remain anonymous, adding that the power equations between the MLAs, the CSOs, and SoO groups had gotten “more nuanced” over the last two years.

As a result of this, some of the leaders have also wondered if it is possible to “productively” gather all representatives for a meeting on the way forward any longer, the leader said.