BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, May 3, 2025 – Hundreds of members from the Kuki-Zo community staged a powerful protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Friday, rallying for a separate Union Territory with a legislature for the Kuki-dominated areas of Manipur. Organized by the Kuki Students’ Organization and the Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum from Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), the demonstration spotlighted the community’s anguish over the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur and their demand for justice and political autonomy.
The protesters, holding placards and raising slogans, condemned the central and Manipur state governments for their handling of the ethnic clashes between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities, which have claimed over 260 lives and displaced thousands since May 2023. A detailed statement issued at the protest, addressed to the offices of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, outlined the community’s grievances and demands.
“The Kuki-Zo people have faced decades of marginalization, systemic exclusion, and now genocidal violence orchestrated by radicalized groups with the complicity of the state machinery,” the statement read. It further accused the former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh of “fueling division and enabling violence against our community, rendering his resignation a mere cosmetic change.”
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The statement emphasized the need for a separate Union Territory as the only path to peace and security. “The Kuki-Zo people cannot coexist under a state administration that has repeatedly failed to protect us or address our legitimate aspirations. A separate Union Territory with a legislature is not just a demand but a necessity for our survival and dignity,” it declared. The protesters called on the central government to “immediately constitute a high-level committee to draft a roadmap for this administrative separation and ensure time-bound implementation.”
Protesters also highlighted the dire situation in Manipur’s hill districts, where the Kuki-Zo predominantly reside. “Our people are denied access to essential supplies, including food and medicine, due to blockades and restrictions imposed by valley-based organizations with the state’s tacit approval,” the statement alleged. It urged the government to “end this economic strangulation and ensure equitable distribution of resources to Kuki-Zo areas.”
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Today, the Kuki tribal community in Delhi, while protesting at Jantar Mantar, sent a powerful message to the Government of India, reminding them that a #SeparateAdministration for the Kuki-Zo is the only solution for the political problems in Manipur.#SeparationDay… pic.twitter.com/IlS1xPhDlX
— Sumkawn (@Sumkawn) May 3, 2025
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The demonstration follows a series of failed peace talks, including an inconclusive meeting on April 5, 2025, between Kuki-Zo and Meitei representatives in New Delhi. While President’s Rule, imposed on February 13, 2025, has reduced violent incidents, Kuki-Zo leaders argue that “peace cannot be imposed through force or silence.” A representative of the Kuki Students’ Organization stated, “We will not return to a Manipur where our lives and rights are under constant threat. The Centre must act decisively.”
The protest saw emotional appeals, with placards reading “Justice for Kuki-Zo,” “Separate UT, Save Lives,” and “End Systemic Exclusion.” The statement concluded with a call for solidarity: “We appeal to all communities and citizens of India to support our struggle for justice and self-determination. The Kuki-Zo will not be silenced until our voices are heard and our rights are secured.”
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This protest marks a continuation of the Kuki-Zo community’s demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, following similar rallies in 2023 and a silent sit-in by Kuki-Zo MLAs in December 2024. As the ethnic crisis in Manipur persists, the central government faces mounting pressure to address the Kuki-Zo community’s demands while navigating the complex dynamics of the state’s diverse population.
