NEW DELHI: After the two prominent Kuki-Zo groups signed a suspension of operations (SoO) agreement on Thursday, the Congress said that it had created the breakthrough first in 2005.
Congress general secretary in charge of communication, Jairam Ramesh alleged that the agreement was allowed to lapse in February 2024.
"Much is being made of today's Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement with the Kuki National Organisation and the United People's Front in Manipur to pave the way for the PM's visit to the state on Sept 13th. SoO first came into force on Aug 1, 2005. It was subsequently formalised on Aug 22, 2008. It was allowed to lapse in February 2024. If anything, state BJP leaders had been critical of SoO. It was the Congress that created the breakthrough in the first place," he posted on X.
Two prominent Kuki-Zo groups on Thursday signed a suspension of operations agreement with the government on re-negotiated terms and conditions under which they agreed on maintaining the territorial integrity of Manipur, relocating designated camps away from vulnerable areas and working for a solution to bring lasting peace and stability in the state.
Separately, Civil Society group Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has decided to open the National Highway-02, which passes through Manipur for free movement of commuters and essential goods. The move comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's likely visit to Manipur next week, first since ethnic violence broke out between the Meiteis and Kukis in May 2023.
The pact was signed after a series of meetings between the officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and a delegation of Kuki groups in last few days, according to an official statement issued by the MHA.
Manipur has been witnessing ethnic violence since May 3, 2023, after a tribal solidarity march was taken out in the hill districts, in protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Since then, about 260 people, including members of both the Kuki and Meitei communities as well as security personnel, have been killed in the violence. However, there has been relative peace in Manipur in last few months.