Centre, SoO Groups Open High-Level Talks on Kuki-Zo Union Territory Demand

In a major political development, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Kuki-Zo armed groups under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) — the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF) — held a two-day round of talks on November 6 and 7, 2025, in New Delhi, centering on the community’s core demand for a Union Territory with a Legislative Assembly.

The KNO and UPF delegations, representing the Kuki-Zo political and armed leadership, were led by senior leaders from both umbrella bodies, while the Centre was represented by A.K. Mishra, Advisor (North East), MHA.

The first day’s discussions focused on the implementation of the September 4 tripartite agreement between the MHA, the Government of Manipur, and the SoO groups. The Kuki-Zo representatives underscored the urgent need for an alternative administrative arrangement in the Kuki-Zo inhabited districts, citing the collapse of governance and law and order in the wake of the ongoing ethnic conflict.

On the second day, deliberations revolved around the demand for a Union Territory with Legislature, with KNO and UPF asserting that “coexistence under the Manipur state administrative setup is no longer possible” following what they termed the “ethnic cleansing” that began on May 3, 2023, in Imphal.

The delegations strongly reiterated that the Kuki-Zo demand for a Union Territory is historically and constitutionally justified. They argued that the Kuki-Zo Hills were never under the Manipur State Durbar’s control before Independence, and that under British rule, the region was classified as an “Excluded Area” under the Government of India Act, 1935—administered directly by the British Political Agent, not by the Meitei king.

The groups emphasized that the tribal land tenure system, based on chief-owned community lands, is fundamentally incompatible with the valley’s state-controlled land model. They stressed that pre-Independence Manipur had dual governance systems—the valley under the Maharaja and the hills under the British Political Agent—making the current administrative integration historically incongruent.

The Kuki-Zo representatives maintained that their political demand is not an act of division but a “restoration of pre-Independence autonomy” and a means to achieve equitable governance, security, and development within the framework of the Indian Union. They noted that during the 1949 merger of Manipur, the Meitei king was compensated, but Kuki-Zo chiefs were not, leaving tribal governance rights unrecognized in the state’s political structure.

Responding to the demand, A.K. Mishra acknowledged the Centre’s sensitivity to the plight of the Kuki-Zo people, but stated that current Government policy does not support the creation of new Union Territories. He further underlined the need for consultation with other communities in Manipur before any final resolution.

The KNO and UPF delegations, however, urged the Government to reconsider its position, arguing that constitutional provisions take precedence over policy, and that the ground realities in Manipur have rendered coexistence impossible. They called for invoking constitutional safeguards to secure the lives, land, and property of the Kuki-Zo people.

The discussions also covered land and forest rights, protection of traditional chiefs’ authority, and development concerns. The SoO leaders pressed for the MHA’s intervention to protect tribal land ownership, streamline succession of village chiefs, and simplify land registration procedures, which currently require travel to Imphal — an area they described as “inaccessible and unsafe” for Kuki-Zo residents since the conflict began.

The plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) was also extensively discussed, with the KNO and UPF urging the Government to expedite rehabilitation measures, ensuring security, housing, and essential amenities for displaced tribal families.

The dialogue marks a significant political step forward in the ongoing peace process, with both sides agreeing to pursue confidence-building measures and continued engagement to address the aspirations of the Kuki-Zo people.