Reaffirming that Manipur erritorial integrity is non-negotiable, the state government has denied speculation that a Territorial Council for the Kuki-Zo community was discussed during the Chief Minister’s meeting with Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Boro, retired Lt Gen R.P. Kalita and former IB officer A.K. Mishra.
BY PC Bureau
Imphal, October 24, 2026: The Manipur government has rejected reports suggesting that a Territorial Council for the Kuki-Zo community was discussed or agreed upon during a recent meeting between Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and three visiting dignitaries, describing the reports as “totally baseless and fabricated”.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the government said Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Boro, retired Lieutenant General R.P. Kalita and former Intelligence Bureau Special Director A.K. Mishra met the Chief Minister at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Mantripukhri on Thursday.
According to the statement, the discussions focused on restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur and promoting reconciliation among communities. “No other agendas contrary to the aspirations and interests of the people and the State were discussed,” it said.
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Rejecting speculation about a Territorial Council, the government reiterated that both the Centre and the BJP-led state administration remained committed to protecting Manipur’s territorial integrity. “The BJP-led government will protect the territorial integrity of Manipur at any cost,” the statement added.
The clarification comes amid the prolonged ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities that erupted in May 2023. Kuki-Zo groups have sought a separate administration, with a Union Territory with a legislature among their principal demands.
Pramod Boro’s presence at the meeting drew attention because he is a prominent Bodo leader and former chief executive member of the Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam, an autonomous body established under a distinct political and constitutional framework. This fuelled speculation in some quarters about whether a similar arrangement could be considered for Manipur.
The government’s statement, however, did not indicate any change in its position on the state’s territorial boundaries. It maintained that the meeting was confined to peace, normalcy and reconciliation efforts.
The statement comes as efforts to address Manipur’s continuing security, humanitarian and political crisis remain complicated by competing demands over the state’s future administrative structure.
