Centre’s Six-Point Peace Plan Offers Hope for Manipur as Meitei and Kuki Groups Engage in Historic Dialogue

In a significant breakthrough aimed at ending nearly two years of ethnic conflict in Manipur, Meitei civil society groups — the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) — revealed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has proposed a six-point resolution to pave the way for peace.

The development follows a crucial peace conference held in New Delhi on April 5, where representatives from both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities came together for the first time since violence erupted in May 2023. The talks were hosted by the Union Home Ministry and marked a rare moment of constructive engagement between the two sides.

Speaking to the media, AMUCO president Nando Luwang described the meeting as a “positive and constructive” step forward. “We were orally invited by the MHA. This was a dialogue about finding solutions, not arguments. We attended without any conditions and raised the concerns of our people,” he said. Senior MHA official A.K. Mishra reportedly urged all participants to cooperate and work towards lasting peace.

Luwang said the talks concluded with the ministry proposing a six-point resolution, which was shared with all parties for feedback. After reviewing and suggesting modifications, the groups agreed to the plan. He emphasized that the resolution serves as a starting point in restoring peace and rebuilding coexistence in the violence-torn state.

One of the key elements of the resolution is a call for civil society groups from both communities to appeal to their members to shun violence. Luwang added that more complex, long-term issues will be addressed in subsequent rounds of dialogue.

FOCS acting president BM Shah reaffirmed a core Meitei stance, stating, “There will be no compromise on the territorial integrity of Manipur.”

The meeting was attended by six Meitei representatives from AMUCO and FOCS, and nine delegates from the Kuki-Zo Council. This initiative stands in contrast to a failed October 2024 attempt by the Home Ministry to convene Meitei, Kuki, and Naga MLAs, where groups refused to share a room and instead met officials separately.

Since the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in February 2025, Manipur has been under President’s Rule. The state assembly, although not dissolved, has been suspended.

The conflict, which began in May 2023, has claimed around 260 lives, displaced thousands, and saw the looting of thousands of weapons from police stations. The six-point plan marks a hopeful step in a long and difficult journey towards peace in Manipur.