An MLA of the ruling BJP in Manipur on Friday urged the 10 Kuki-Zo lawmakers from the strife-torn state to “work unitedly for peace” or resign if they want to push their demand “of division and separation from the state”.

Rajkumar Imo Singh, a three-term MLA and son-in-law of chief minister N. Biren Singh, has made the request in a long post on X. He was formerly with the Congress and joined the BJP in 2021.

The request yet again reflected the deep divide between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities created by the ongoing conflict that erupted on May 3, leaving at least 179 dead and over 67,000 displaced. Even after four months, Manipur remains volatile despite heavy deployment of security forces.

The 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs include seven from the BJP, two of whom are ministers. They have stayed away from Imphal following the eruption of violence.

Imo Singh, a Meitei, said in his post: “These so-called legislators seem to be attending office in another state. Are they all serious to bring a peaceful solution in our state? And how will that be possible by discussing with another state leader who has a different agenda?”

The trigger for the post seems to be the September 6 meeting six Kuki-Zo MLAs and representatives of several civil society organisations from Manipur had with Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga in Aizawl. Zoramthanga has said his dispensation will continue to support the affected Kuki-Zo people of Manipur, who share the same ancestry as the Mizos.

Imo Singh said: “We want to live in a peaceful state with no such conflict, a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic state of 34-35 indigenous tribes, which we all are proud of. If they are not serious about bringing peace here and only stick with the demand, then I really urge them all to resign from the Manipur Legislative Assembly as it is morally not correct to remain in public office of the state, taking salary from the state and also talking about division and separation from the state.”

The 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs had first raised the demand for a separate administration on May 12 as their people had “lost faith” in the Manipur government.

In a memorandum to Union home minister Amit Shah, the 10 MLAs had claimed: “That Manipur is now partitioned is the ground reality. Huge population transfers between the valley and the hills inhabited by the Kuki-Chin-Mizo-Zomi-Hmar had occurred. There are no tribals left in the Imphal valley. There are no Meiteis left in the hills...”

In another memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August, the Kuki-Zo MLAs had sought the creation of the posts of chief secretary and DGP or their equivalents for the efficient administration of the five hill districts as Imphal had “become the valley of death and destruction” for their people. The five hill districts are Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Chandel, Tengnoupal and Pherzawl.