The Manipur Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Thursday, urging the Centre to terminate the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with all Kuki-Zo militant groups.

However, 10 Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs criticised the move, labelling it “one-sided” and stemming from “prejudice, bias and hatred for our community”.

In a joint statement released late Thursday, the 10 MLAs condemned the resolution that sought to abrogate the tripartite SoO agreement with 25 Kuki-Zo militant groups under the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF). They contended that the resolution unfairly attributed responsibility for the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur to the SoO groups.

The SoO agreement, signed in 2008, had expired on February 29. The MLAs questioned whether the resolution was based on the official Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) reports, which determine violations of ground rules, asserting that it appeared to stem from animosity rather than an objective evaluation.

The Manipur Assembly has 60 members, with the 10 Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs not attending the ongoing session due to “security reasons”. Of the remaining 50 MLAs, 40 are from the Meitei and Pangal (Meitei Muslim) communities and 10 from the Naga community. The assembly passed the resolution amidst growing demands for abrogating the SoO pact.

Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh on Thursday said the resolution aimed to ensure peace and security, urging the central government to abrogate the SoO pact with all Kuki-Zo militant groups.

The 10 Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs, including seven from the BJP, two from the KPA and an Independent, criticised the resolution. The KPA had withdrawn its support to the BJP-led government in August over issues related to the handling of conflicts between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities, which has till now claimed at least 219 lives and displaced over 67,000.

Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Wednesday said 10,000 FIRs had been filed during the ongoing conflict, with 29 cases transferred to the CBI and one to the NIA. The MLAs praised the SoO pact, initially lauded for bringing peace to the region, and questioned the Assembly’s silence on a peace accord signed with a UNLF faction, blaming it for the ongoing violence.

Additionally, the Assembly on Friday reiterated its resolution passed on August 5, 2022, urging the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur. The chief minister emphasised the importance of NRC for safeguarding the state’s interests and national integrity.

The chief minister on Friday said in a post: “...It is our firm belief that the implementation of the NRC in Manipur is crucial for safeguarding the interests of our state and contributing to the greater good of our nation.”

He further said: “The decision to urge the Centre to expedite the implementation of the NRC reflects our commitment to ensuring the security and integrity of Manipur. I urge all citizens to support this endeavour as we strive to build a stronger, more prosperous Manipur for generations to come.”