Northeast Desk, 6th August: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh clarified on Monday that Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has not been appointed as an interlocutor for peace talks concerning the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur.
During a session in the Manipur assembly, Singh addressed recent media and social media reports suggesting Lalduhoma’s involvement in mediating the Manipur crisis. Singh confirmed that these reports were based on a misunderstanding of a casual request made during a NITI Aayog meeting in New Delhi on July 27, where he had asked Lalduhoma to visit Manipur. Singh emphasized that any official appointment of an interlocutor would fall under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister’s Office or the Ministry of Home Affairs, and no such appointment had been made or discussed.
An official from Lalduhoma’s office indicated that the Mizoram Chief Minister did meet with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on August 1, advocating for engagement with Manipur’s tribal leaders to address the ethnic conflict. The tribal leaders in Manipur, who have cultural and traditional ties with the Mizos of Mizoram, have previously discussed the crisis with both Lalduhoma and former Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga in Aizawl.
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