The Central Government is committed to addressing the trust deficit between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur, aiming to bring lasting peace to the region. This process will be prioritised and accelerated after the Lok Sabha elections, announced Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Shah asserted the clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities are rooted in ethnic tensions and cannot be resolved through force. “This is not an issue of riots or terrorism. This is an issue of ethnic violence. It can’t be resolved through force,” he stated.
The Home Minister attributed the violence to a lack of dialogue and trust between the two communities, stemming from specific incidents. “We have to repair this. This is a time-consuming job. We were working on it speedily, but it has been delayed due to the elections. That is quite natural,” he explained.
Shah highlighted the need for leaders from both communities to prioritise reconciliation over political issues. “After the counting, the government will work on it with utmost priority. I believe there will be no violence in the future,” he added.
Ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, following a march by Kuki community protesting the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The ongoing violence has resulted in the deaths of over 220 people, including security personnel.
