Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh disclosed on Sunday that his government is engaged in "peace talks" with an insurgent group based in the Imphal Valley.
Speaking to PTI, Singh mentioned that the discussions have progressed significantly, although he refrained from identifying the underground organization involved.
Singh said, "We are advancing, and we are expecting to sign a peace accord with one big UG (underground organisation) very shortly."
Further, the Manipur CM thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this major advancement, he said, "We are really proud of it (Constitution of India). We, on behalf of the people of Manipur, will highly appreciate the honourable PM for his thinking of inclusiveness and recognition of small factors. Manipur is a very tiny state, our population is very low. But through the guidance of the PM, we have been able to publish the 'longest and greatest written' Constitution of India in our own script."
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This marks the first official confirmation of such talks by the government since ethnic violence erupted on May 3.
Earlier reports suggested that the government was in discussions with a faction of the proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF).
The violence, which commenced after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' on May 3 to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, has claimed the lives of more than 180 people.
The Meiteis, constituting approximately 53 per cent of Manipur's population and primarily residing in the Imphal Valley, are distinct from the tribal communities, including Nagas and Kukis, which make up 40 per cent of the population and predominantly inhabit the hill districts.
