Representatives of an influential tribal group from Manipur will fly to Delhi on Monday to attend a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the prevailing situation in the strife-torn northeastern state, sources said.
The delegation of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), a body representing various Zo ethnic groups in Manipur, responded to an invitation extended by Shah
The ITLF leaders reached the Mizoram capital from Churachandpur in Manipur and will fly to Delhi from Lengpui airport near here.
Chief Minister Zoramthanga, on his Instagram account, expressed hope that the talks will yield results.
He said that the ITLF leaders held a day-long discussion on Saturday and consulted him on whether to respond to the invitation or not.
“I suggested they accept the invitation. I told them that it is a good opportunity to have a face-to-face discussion with the Home Minister,” Zoramthanga said on his official Instagram handle.
After careful consideration, the ITLF leaders unanimously agreed to meet Shah.
Shah had earlier extended an invitation to the group to hold a meeting with him in the national capital to discuss the situation in Manipur.
Despite repeated attempts, leaders of ITLF could not be contacted for comments.
Meanwhile, NDA partner Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) on Sunday announced withdrawal of support from the N Biren Singh government in Manipur.
In a letter to Governor Anusuiya Uikey, KPA president Tongmang Haokip informed about the party’s decision to snap ties with the BJP-led government in Manipur, where ethnic rioting since the last three months has claimed more than 160 lives.
The development, however, will have no impact on the stability of the government, as the BJP has 37 members in the 60-member Manipur Assembly.
“After careful consideration of the current conflagration, the continued support for the incumbent government of Manipur led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh is no longer fructuous.
“Accordingly, the support of the KPA to the Government of Manipur is hereby withdrawn and can be considered null and void,” Haokip said in the letter.
The KPA has two MLAs in the assembly – Kimneo Haokip Hangshing from Saikul and Chinlunthang from Singhat.
The NPP has seven MLAs and the NPF has five. The Congress, too, has five legislators.
KPA general secretary W Lalam Hangshing told PTI: “We have sent the letter to the Governor by e-mail. We have two MLAs, and had given outside support to the government. In view of the present situation, the association is infructuous.”
