GUWAHATI, May 16: Several Kuki MLAs from Manipur, along with representatives of various civil society organisations and SoO groups, held a closed-door meeting in Guwahati on Friday to discuss their future course of action as peace gradually returns to the ethnic strife-torn state, sources said.
Members of the Kuki community arrived in the Assam capital on Wednesday and Thursday and are staying at an undisclosed hotel where the meeting was held, a source from the community and privy to the development told PTI.
“It is a closed-door meeting, so it is difficult to know exactly what they are discussing. However, one of them informed that they will mainly deliberate on one point — separate administration for the Kuki-Zo people in Manipur under the aegis of the Constitution so that we can live a life free of discrimination and subjugation,” she added.
They are also believed to have discussed how to present their side of the story to the central government in support of their demand for a separate administration within Manipur.
“Peace is gradually returning to the state after the imposition of President’s Rule. The next step is to have a lasting peace in Manipur. Therefore, all stakeholders have now started discussions on the future course of action,” another source said.
A senior Assam Police officer confirmed the meeting, but said it is taking place without informing the administration here.
“We learnt about the meeting last evening, but they did not inform us. According to our information, around 15 people are discussing their internal issues,” he told PTI.
The Centre had imposed President’s Rule in Manipur on February 13, days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned from his post.
