Fresh Round of Dialogue Between MHA and Manipur Civil Society Delegation Begins in Delhi
A fresh round of dialogue between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and a joint delegation of three prominent Meitei-based civil society organisations — the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO), the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) — began in New Delhi today.
The meeting, which commenced at around 11 a.m., marks the third formal engagement between the MHA and the Valley-based organisations as part of the Centre’s ongoing efforts to address the continuing conflict in Manipur.
The 19-member delegation, formed after a joint consultative meeting in Imphal, includes 7 representatives each from COCOMI and AMUCO, and 5 from FOCS. In the preparatory discussions, the organisations reviewed the invitation from the MHA and agreed upon a coordinated approach for meaningful dialogue.
COCOMI Coordinator Khuraijam Athouba, speaking at a press briefing, said the delegation would focus on pressing issues impacting peace and stability in the state. He emphasized that the team would highlight the sentiments of the people and realities on the ground, urging the Centre to take concrete and time-bound actions to resolve the ongoing crisis.
According to sources, the delegation is expected to submit a memorandum focusing on four major areas:
- Preservation of Manipur’s territorial integrity
- Immediate reopening of blocked national highways
- Rehabilitation of internally displaced persons
- Provision of adequate security in the foothills and fringe areas to facilitate farming during the kharif season
While details of the meeting remain confidential, discussions are said to centre around restoring normalcy, ensuring public safety, and addressing long-standing public grievances regarding the Centre’s inaction. In a parallel move, the MHA is also scheduled to hold a separate round of dialogue with Kuki armed groups under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement on July 4.
Today’s engagement is seen as a renewed push to resolve the situation through dialogue. It follows months of memoranda, protests, and appeals from civil society groups since the eruption of violence last year. A formal statement from either side is expected once the talks conclude.
Stay tuned for updates as the dialogue progresses.