Ensure Kuki-Zo MLAs’ participation in Manipur assembly session: Congress urges govt

Imphal: The opposition Congress party in Manipur has called on the BJP-led central and Manipur governments to ensure the participation of the ten Kuki-Zo MLAs in the state in the upcoming session of the Manipur legislative assembly.

The Manipur assembly session is set to commence on Wednesday (July 31).

Speaking to the media in Imphal, Keisham Meghachandra, president of the Manipur Congress and sitting Congress MLA, stated that there is a need for peaceful negotiations to address the ongoing ethnic violence in the state.

Meghachandra stated that allowing the Kuki-Zo MLAs to attend the Manipur assembly session would be a step towards achieving this goal.

“The governments at the Centre and state should facilitate the participation of Kuki-Zo MLAs in the forthcoming session to foster peaceful negotiations,” the Manipur Congress chief said.

He highlighted that these legislators had skipped the last two sessions, demanding a separate administration for Kuki-Zo-dominated districts of Manipur.

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Meghachandra, who represents the Wangkhem assembly constituency, believes their inclusion in the sessions could lead to an amicable solution to the ongoing violence in Manipur.

In response to a question on unity and cooperation, Meghachandra affirmed that the Congress is ready to cooperate with the Kuki-Zo MLAs to restore peace in Manipur.

The Manipur legislative assembly, with 60 members, includes 10 Kuki-Zo legislators.

The ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur, which erupted on May 3 last year, has resulted in over 230 deaths and displaced more than 60,000 people.

The sixth session of the 12^th Manipur legislative assembly will run from July 31 to August 12, featuring nine working days, according to the state assembly's Business Advisory Committee (BAC).

The sessions are scheduled for July 31, and August 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12, as per a provisional calendar issued by Manipur legislative assembly secretary K Meghajit.