Centre Rejects Kuki-Zo Groups’ Demand for Separate Union Territory After Manipur Violence

Centre Rules Out Kuki-Zo Demand for Separate Union Territory, Focuses on Rehabilitation and Governance in Manipur Talks.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ruled out the creation of a separate Union Territory for the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur following a two-day round of talks with representatives of Kuki-Zo armed groups.

The discussions, held in New Delhi on November 6 and 7, involved senior officials led by MHA’s northeast advisor A.K. Mishra and leaders from the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) — the two umbrella groups representing Kuki-Zo factions under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.

MHA Reiterates Policy Stand

According to officials, while the Centre acknowledged the grievances of tribal groups and the ongoing ethnic tension in Manipur, it reiterated that “the Government of India’s current policy does not support the creation of new Union Territories.”

Instead, the discussions focused on governance, security coordination, and the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons. Both sides also reviewed the implementation of the tripartite agreement signed on September 4 between the MHA, the Manipur government, and the Kuki-Zo groups.

Kuki-Zo Groups Reaffirm Demand

During the talks, KNO and UPF representatives pressed for a Union Territory with a legislative assembly, arguing that coexistence under the current Manipur state administration had become “impossible” since the May 3, 2023, ethnic violence in Imphal.

They cited historical and constitutional grounds, noting that the Kuki-Zo Hills were designated as “Excluded Areas” under the Government of India Act, 1935, and administered by the British Political Agent rather than the Meitei monarchy. The delegation claimed that post-Independence integration in 1949 had “subsumed” tribal regions into a valley-centric structure that overlooked traditional autonomy.

“The demand for a UT is not secessionist,” one Kuki-Zo leader reportedly said, “but an appeal to restore pre-Independence autonomy within the Indian Constitution.”

Broader Issues Discussed

The talks also addressed issues of tribal land rights, forest management, and the powers of traditional chiefs. Kuki-Zo leaders sought legal safeguards for customary land ownership, improved land registration systems, and better administrative access for tribal districts, many of which remain cut off from Imphal.

Displacement and rehabilitation featured prominently in the dialogue. Both sides agreed to advance confidence-building measures and continue political engagement to address humanitarian concerns and restore stability in the state. Officials said the next round of discussions will be held in the coming weeks as part of a broader effort to achieve a durable resolution to Manipur’s ethnic and administrative crisis.