Adversitement
Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) Representatives Hold Talks with Union Home Minister Amit Shah Amid Ethnic Unrest in Manipur
Published On : 2023-08-09T15:20:23+0530 [ IST ] |
Author : Mayur_Tembhare
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Kuki women sit on a bench as they guard a checkpoint on a road in Churachandpur district in the northeastern state of Manipur. (REUTERS File)
India / New Delhi :
Representatives from the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), a major organization covering tribal tribes in the area, met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah amid rising ethnic tensions in Manipur. The discussions were intended to address the current instability and chaos brought on by interethnic fighting in the northeastern state.
The ITLF's meetings with Amit Shah take place in the context of growing anxiety over the ongoing interethnic conflict, which is principally characterized by conflicts between the Kuki and Meitei populations. Although the specifics of the meetings have not been made public, the participation highlights a purposeful effort to bring peace and harmony back to the state.
The ITLF's declaration of a mass burial plan for members of the Kuki-Zomi community who died during the uprising served as the engagement's impetus. Recognizing the importance of the circumstance, the home ministry invited ITLF to a meeting. Following a directive from the Manipur high court to maintain the status quo at the selected burial location in Churachandpur district, the scheduled burial plan was postponed.
A group of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentarians from Manipur also traveled to Delhi for these meetings. Their visit coincides with the continuing discussions and shows the political community's commitment to dialogue and solving the problems brought on by the ethnic riots.
The Kuki community, which mostly lives in hill areas like Churachandpur, and the Meitei group, which makes up the bulk of the people in Imphal Valley, have been engaged in skirmishes for a number of months. Over 160 people have died as a result of the rioting, which started on May 3 in Churachandpur town after demonstrations by Kuki groups opposing proposed modifications to the state's reservation matrix, particularly the awarding of scheduled tribe (ST) status to the Meitei community.
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a significant conglomeration of Meitei civil society groups, raised worry over the ITLF's planned meeting with Amit Shah during the talks and attempts at settlement. Due to the meeting's claimed participation of ITLF members in violent crimes, COCOMI released a statement denouncing it.
The sequence of interactions and talks highlight a shared desire to work towards a peaceful conclusion and restore calm in the area as Manipur struggles with the intricacies of ethnic conflicts.
Tags : Manipur , Peace , Meitei Community , Talks , Amit Shah , ITLF , Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum , Ethnic Violence , Kuki-Zomi , Ethnic Clashes ,
Summary : Representatives from the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), a significant umbrella organization representing tribal groups in Manipur, engaged in discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to address the ongoing ethnic turmoil in the region. The meetings come against the backdrop of escalating ethnic violence in Manipur, particularly involving clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities. The ITLF's intention to organize a mass burial for Kuki-Zomi individuals killed in the unrest prompted the involvement of the home ministry. While specifics of the discussions remain undisclosed, the engagement signifies a concerted effort to restore peace in the state. Additionally, a group of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators from Manipur also arrived in Delhi for talks with senior party leaders.
Adversitement