MHA Presents Six-Point Peace Roadmap for Manipur: Meitei Groups

IMPHAL: In a breakthrough effort to bring an end to the prevailing ethnic strife in Manipur, Meitei-dominated civil groups — the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) — have stated that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has proposed a six-point resolution as a roadmap towards peace in the state.

This came in the wake of an important peace conference that was conducted on April 5 at New Delhi, where representatives from the Kuki-Zo community also attended.

Speaking to the media on Monday, AMUCO president Nando Luwang called the dialogue a positive and constructive move. "We were orally invited by the MHA for the meeting. The dialogue was about finding solutions, not debating. We attended without conditions and expressed the concerns of our people," Luwang added. MHA official A.K. Mishra is said to have exhorted all participants to work cooperatively towards peaceful solutions.

Luwang said that the talks reached their culmination stage with the ministry coming up with a six-point resolution, which was provided to all the groups engaged for comments. "We went through the points, offered proposals where needed, and ultimately agreed," he said. The resolution, he further said, is the starting point towards a systemic process of re-establishing peace and coexistence in the region affected by conflict.

One of the resolution's main points, Luwang says, is a call by the MHA to civil society groups on both sides to appeal to their respective communities to avoid violence. He also disclosed that controversial long-term matters would be addressed through future consultations and continued dialogue.

BM Shah, the acting president of FOCS, reiterated a crucial position held by most in the Meitei community when he said, "There will be no compromise on the territorial integrity of Manipur."

This was the initial encounter between delegates from the Meitei and Kuki groups since the eruption of ethnic conflict close to two years ago. The Union Home Ministry-hosted meeting is an important step for the Centre's move to end the conflict and normalize the situation in Manipur.

The Meitei side was represented by six members of the AMUCO and FOCS, whereas nine members of the Kuki-Zo Council represented the Kuki side. As opposed to that, an earlier effort by the Home Ministry in October 2024 to situate Meitei, Kuki, and Naga MLAs around a common table had failed when legislators from the two competing communities refused to occupy the same meeting hall, instead having separate sessions with central interlocutors.

President's Rule has prevailed in Manipur since February 13, 2025, ever since the Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh, resigned. The state assembly period of office, although still operational till 2027, was suspended.

The ethnic violence, which started in May 2023, has killed about 260 people and displaced thousands. The violence also involved the theft of several thousand guns from police stations around the state.

ALSO READ:

ALSO WATCH: