Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has firmly rejected calls for a separate state for the Kuki community amid ongoing violence that has persisted for over a year in the northeastern state. He assured that the government is committed to resolving the conflict through dialogue and peaceful negotiations with both the Meitei and Kuki groups.

“This is a very small state. We have 2,000-year-old history of my forefathers’ sacrifices that were made for the formation of the state. So, we don’t want to break this state. There shouldn’t be a separate administration. We won’t allow this. State government is ready to fulfill the demands for development. It is important to develop the hilly areas,” Singh said.

Last year, the Opposition accused Biren Singh of mishandling the tense situation in Manipur and demanded his resignation. In a PTI interview, Singh stressed the need to end the bloodshed in Manipur, but he refused to resign, asserting he is “no thief.”

“Why should I resign? Have I stolen anything? Is there a scandal against me? Have I worked against the nation or state? I have saved the state from illegal migration, illegal poppy cultivation. My job is to protect Manipur and people of Manipur. There is no question (of resigning),” Singh said.

He said that the state government is actively working to establish peace and noted the importance of the Centre’s involvement. “Under the leadership of Union Home Minister, we have started talks… Meitei and Kuki MLAs have met. The finishing touch has to be provided by the Centre. I don’t want to prolong it… this has to be done within 5-6 months. The Home Minister is working a lot over this… he is holding 1-2 meetings every week,” he said in the interview.

The clashes between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei ethnic groups since May 2023 have resulted in 226 deaths, according to official figures.

Singh announced that he has appointed an emissary, Dinganglung Gangmei, a Naga MLA and chairman of the Hill Area Committee, to facilitate talks with Kuki-Zo and Meitei leaders. “All of this can be resolved through dialogue. Dialogue is the only way,” Singh concluded.

Singh traced the roots of the conflict back to his first term as chief minister from 2017 to 2022, when he took action against illegal drug trade and migration from Myanmar, which is just about 100 kilometre from Imphal.

He suggested that those affected by his crackdown conspired to undermine his government and destabilise the state by instigating clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities. The Kuki tribes are mainly Christian and live in the hills, while the Meiteis, who are Hindu, live in the plains and valleys. Some Kuki tribes are also found in Myanmar.

Singh said that a Manipur High Court ruling in March 2023, which recommended Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meiteis, amplified anger among Kukis. The Kukis felt their rights were being compromised, even though Singh’s government did not act on the court’s decision. But by then, Kuki student groups had already begun protests, which quickly escalated into widespread violence. The High Court withdrew the ST status recommendation from its order in February this year.

The ongoing conflict has also increased pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has faced criticism from the opposition and others for not visiting Manipur to address the crisis.

“PM coming or not coming has been made an issue by people. The PM may not have come but he has sent his home minister. And PM has so often spoken about Manipur, even from Lal Quila on Independence Day … and whatever is being done here in terms of security, funding etc, is under his leadership only. In a complex situation a PM coming was not necessary,” Singh said.

When asked if the ethnic conflict had affected the BJP’s popularity in the state, Singh responded, “The BJP’s popularity has not gone down, my popularity has gone down. There’s emotion… like despite being the CM, Biren Singh is not responding to the violence… but retaliating won’t work. Solution will come through talks. BJP’s popularity is still there. You can see the photos, videos of ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, Manipur might be the best one in the entire Northeast. I can say this proudly. The opposition has won two seats by misleading the people… by abusing the PM, CM, Amit Shah ji. Now, we have started the ground work and people have started realising the facts.”