Guwahati: Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised the government’s commitment to resolving the ethnic violence in Manipur by addressing the trust deficit between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
In an interview with PTI on Saturday, Shah stated that the government would expedite the peace process with utmost priority once the Lok Sabha elections are concluded.
Shah underscored the nature of the conflict, noting that it is fundamentally ethnic and not an issue that can be resolved through force. “This is not an issue of riots or terrorism. This is an issue of ethnic violence. It can’t be resolved through force,” he said. The minister highlighted that the violence stemmed from a lack of discussions and trust between the two communities, which had been exacerbated by certain incidents.
The clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities erupted on May 3, 2023, following a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts of Manipur. The march was organized to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Since the outbreak of violence, over 220 individuals, including community members and security personnel, have lost their lives.
Shah acknowledged the delay in addressing the issue due to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections but assured that the government would prioritize this matter once the election process is over. “We have to repair this. This is a time-consuming job. We were working on it speedily. But it has been delayed due to the elections. That is quite natural,” he remarked.
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The minister pointed out that leaders from both communities have been focused on their respective interests and political issues during the election period. However, he expressed optimism for the future, stating, “After the counting, the government will work on it with utmost priority. I believe there will be no violence in the future.”
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