Tension in Manipur as Kuki Zo MLAs Join Government

GUWAHATI: Just a few days after President’s Rule was lifted and a new BJP-led government took charge in Manipur, fresh protests have broken out in several hill districts. Many people from the Kuki-Zo community have opposed the decision of their MLAs to join what they describe as a “Meitei-dominated” government. Demonstrations, shutdowns and clashes with security forces have affected normal life in several areas, showing that tensions in the state remain serious.

The new government was formed on February 4, when Yumunm Khemchand Singh took oath as Chief Minister, ending nearly a year of central rule imposed after the ethnic violence that began in May 2023. The cabinet includes two Deputy Chief Ministers: Nemcha Kipgen, a Kuki-Zo BJP MLA from Kangpokpi, and Losii Dikho of the Naga People’s Front. Kipgen attended the oath-taking virtually from Delhi due to security concerns. Although the government said the appointments were meant to show inclusiveness, several Kuki-Zo groups have strongly opposed the move, saying they had been demanding for a separate administrative arrangement or Union Territory has been ignored.

Violence was first reported on the evening of February 5 in Churachandpur district, only hours after the government was formed. In Tuibong Bazaar, protesters clashed with security personnel, threw stones, burned tyres and damaged property. Police used tear gas to control the crowd, and at least 12 protesters were reported injured. The next day, the Kuki Women’s Human Rights Organisation (KWHRO) organised a large rally in the district, where thousands marched against the participation of Kuki-Zo MLAs in the new government.

Similar protests were also seen in Saikul in Kangpokpi district and Moreh in Tengnoupal district. In Saikul, demonstrations organised by the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) drew large crowds who said they would not cooperate with the “popular government” until their community’s demands are addressed. In Moreh, protests led by the Kuki Women’s Union & Human Rights (KWU & HR) saw people march from Galngam Lentol to the Martyrs’ Complex, shouting slogans such as “We Want Separate Administrator.” Protesters also burned an effigy of three MLAs—Nemcha Kipgen, L.M. Khaute and Ngursanglur Sanate—to express their anger.

Community leaders said that the collective demand for security, justice and autonomy must come before the personal ambitions of political leaders. The Kuki-Zo Council has also announced a social boycott of the three MLAs, saying their decisions will not be accepted until the main demands of the community are fulfilled within a fixed timeframe. The new government passed its floor test in the Assembly on February 6. However, none of the Kuki-Zo MLAs were physically present in the House. Out of Manipur’s 10 Kuki-Zo legislators, seven belong to the BJP, and their support is considered important for the NDA government’s majority. Some militant and civil society groups have warned that protests may intensify if the MLAs continue to support the government. There were also unconfirmed reports that a fringe group announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for anyone targeting Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, though officials have not verified the claim.

Amid the growing tensions, BJP leader Wilubou Newmai, who was earlier part of the 2023 peace committee, said that efforts are being made to bring communities together. He said the BJP central leadership had recently asked legislators and alliance partners from Manipur to attend an important meeting in New Delhi. He added that backchannel talks are being held to reduce tensions and encourage dialogue.

The ethnic violence that began in 2023 has already claimed more than 260 lives and displaced around 62,000 people. The conflict is mainly linked to disputes over land, resources and reservation policies, along with long-standing mistrust between the Meitei community in the valley and the Kuki-Zo tribes in the hills. While Kuki-Zo groups are demanding separate administration citing security concerns, many Meitei organisations continue to support the unity of the state.

Chief Minister Khemchand Singh has appealed for peace and urged people not to take part in violence. Security forces remain on high alert in sensitive districts as authorities monitor the situation.