Imphal: Manipur Rajya Sabha member Leishemba Sanajaoba on Sunday criticized Mizoram MP K Vanlalvena for advocating “separate administrative units” for Meiteis and Kuki-Zo communities in an attempt to resolve the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur.
Sanajaoba urged Vanlalvena to refrain from interfering in the internal matters of Manipur, calling on him to “confine to state issues” and “be a good neighbour.”
Vanlalvena, a leader of the Mizo National Front (MNF), a BJP ally, had earlier suggested that the removal of the N Biren Singh government and the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur were necessary steps to address the violence, which has claimed over 250 lives since May of the previous year. Vanlalvena proposed a two-step solution, beginning with the imposition of President’s Rule, followed by a thorough study of the situation and a demarcation of land occupied by both Meitei and tribal communities.
In his remarks, Vanlalvena emphasized that the ethnic divide between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities was significant, with each group now avoiding the other’s territories. He suggested creating separate administrative units for the areas occupied by these communities as a potential long-term solution to end the violence.
Responding sharply to Vanlalvena’s statements, Sanajaoba posted a message on X (formerly Twitter), urging the Mizoram MP to refrain from overstepping. “My friend, don’t cross the line… Please confine in your state issues… Stop interferences in Manipur’s issues,” he wrote, expressing strong disapproval of the proposed solution.
The political tension between leaders from Mizoram and Manipur comes amid continuing unrest in the northeastern state, where ethnic clashes have been escalating.
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