Shah says that the government is trying diligently to bridge the trust gap between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
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| Manipur News |
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the government is focused on bridging the trust gap between the Meitei and Kuki communities to achieve lasting peace in Manipur. This process will be expedited with top priority as soon as the Lok Sabha elections are over.
During an interview with PTI on Saturday, Shah stressed that the ongoing conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities stems from deep ethnic tensions and stressed that the solution cannot be achieved through the use of force.
Asked about the need for strong government action to end violence in the northeastern state, he said, "The issue is one of ethnic violence, not riots or terrorism. It requires a different approach."
Shah blamed the violence on a lack of communication and trust between the two communities, which had eroded due to certain incidents. "Rebuilding this trust is a time-consuming task. We were making progress, but there has been a delay because of the elections, which is understandable," he said.
He said that leaders of both the communities are currently focusing on their own interests and political issues due to the election. Once the votes are tallied, the government will give priority to addressing the matter. I am confident that we can stop violence in future," he said.
Caste violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023, following a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts to protest against the demand for Scheduled Tribe status for the majority Meitei community. More than 220 people, including community members and security personnel, have lost their lives in the ongoing clashes since then.
Manipur has been under the BJP-led government since 2017. The state is represented by two Lok Sabha constituencies: Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur. While the BJP has fielded a candidate for Inner Manipur, it supports NDA ally Naga People's Front (NPF) candidate for Outer Manipur.
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