MANIPUR: The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) in India’s northeast state of Manipur has announced that it has rejected any dialogue offer with the state’s Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh.
The ITLF said in a statement that the chief minister’s stated intention of reaching out to stakeholders after a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah comes too late after the loss of so many precious lives and properties and the extreme difficulties faced by the Kuki-Zo tribals.
The leaders said that there was no point in talking about peace without a political solution, Indian media reported.
Singh, who belongs to the ruling Hindu-nationalist party in centre BJP, is accused of inaction or outright collaboration in attacks during weeks-long violence between the Hindu Meitei community and the mostly Christian and animist Kuki and Naga indigenous peoples.
The federal government called upon Singh to restore peace in the state of Manipur, precipitating the meeting with Amit Shah. But Human Rights Watch on 30 May accused the BJP of playing divisive politics favorable treatment with the Meitei community over the Kuki and other tribal communities.
Violence in Manipur
While the communal violence has abated in recent weeks, there have been 105 casualties and more than 320 injuries reported since 3 May.
Moreover, more than 50,650 men, women, and children have been displaced due to the conflict.
