Kuki-Zo Council Leaders Meet MHA Officials in New Delhi
On January 15, 2025, the Kuki Zo Council met with Ministry of Home Affairs officials to discuss the ongoing struggles of the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur. The meeting, although brief, is seen as an important first step in ensuring the community’s concerns are heard at the national level.
Kuki-Zo Leaders Seek Recognition in Courtesy Meeting with MHA
In an important gesture of engagement, four representatives from the Kuki Zo Council visited New Delhi on January 15, 2025, for a courtesy meeting with officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The delegation, which included Kuki Zo Council Chairman Henlianthang Thanglet, met with A K Mishra, Northeast Advisor, and Rajesh Kamble, Joint Director of the Intelligence Bureau. The primary purpose of the meeting was to ensure that the voices of the Kuki-Zo community are not sidelined amid the ongoing crisis in Manipur.
Thanglet emphasized that while the meeting was not intended to address the immediate crisis, it was an essential first step in making sure the community’s concerns are heard at the national level. “Our goal was to convey that the Kuki-Zo community feels disconnected from the national dialogue and that our issues are not being sufficiently addressed,” he explained.
A Delicate Call for Inclusion and Recognition
While the meeting was framed as a “courtesy visit,” the Kuki Zo Council leaders expressed a strong desire for greater inclusion and recognition of the Kuki-Zo community’s issues. In the context of the ongoing violence and unrest in Manipur, this initial meeting serves as a starting point for more formal discussions in the future.
Kuki Zo Council members have long felt marginalized in the larger political landscape of Manipur, where their concerns have been often overshadowed by other regional tensions. The meeting with MHA officials is expected to be the first in a series of engagements to raise awareness of the community’s plight and to push for more active participation in the decision-making process.
Moving Forward: Building a Platform for Peace and Dialogue
Despite the absence of tangible results from this initial meeting, Kuki Zo leaders are optimistic about future discussions with central government officials. Their objective is to ensure that the Kuki-Zo community’s voices are represented in national policies and actions, particularly as the situation in Manipur continues to evolve.
By initiating this dialogue, the Kuki Zo Council hopes to foster greater political representation and security for their community. In the long term, the council is looking to create a platform where the Kuki-Zo community can work alongside national policymakers to find sustainable solutions to the challenges they face.
A Step Toward Healing and Reconciliation
For the Kuki Zo community, the January 2025 meeting represents a step toward healing and reconciliation. Although the meeting did not yield immediate action, it demonstrates the community’s commitment to peace and its determination to be a part of the national conversation. As tensions continue to rise in Manipur, the Kuki Zo Council’s role in advocating for peace and security will be crucial in the months ahead.
