The proposed delegation for meeting with Prez Murmu could include hill-area MLAs, members of the Hill Areas Committee under Article 371C, Kuki civil society representatives, and leaders of SoO-bound armed groups seeking a constitutional hearing.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, January 17, 2026: In a fresh push for resolution amid Manipur’s ongoing ethnic strife, the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP), a national organisation advocating for tribal rights, has formally requested an audience with President Droupadi Murmu for a Kuki delegation. The appeal, dated January 16, highlights a “prolonged constitutional breakdown” in Manipur’s hill areas and seeks a “constitutional hearing” to address the humanitarian crises faced by the Kuki-Zo community since May 2023.
The letter, penned by ABAVP National President (Youth) Shri Luckybhau Jadhav, underscores the organisation’s commitment to facilitating dialogue for indigenous communities when institutional mechanisms have failed. “As a national organisation committed to the protection of the constitutional, territorial, and human rights of Adivasi and Scheduled Tribe communities across India, ABAVP considers it a solemn duty to facilitate a constitutional audience for affected indigenous communities, particularly where existing mechanisms have demonstrably failed to secure life, dignity, and equality under the Constitution,” Jadhav stated.
The proposed delegation could include all ten elected Members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly from hill areas, who also serve on the Hill Areas Committee under Article 371C; representatives from recognised Kuki civil society organisations; and leaders of Kuki armed groups currently under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) framework with the Government of India.
The group could present a “joint constitutional and humanitarian representation,” focusing on the breakdown of safeguards for Scheduled Tribes and the severe impacts of violence that erupted on May 3, 2023.
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Jadhav emphasised the non-political nature of the request: “The delegation seeks no political audience, but a constitutional hearing, conducted with utmost restraint and decorum, to apprise Your Excellency of the cumulative legal, institutional, and humanitarian dimensions of the crisis, and to seek guidance and protection within the framework of the Constitution of India.” He urged the President’s Secretariat to communicate a suitable date and time for the meeting.
ABAVP, known for its advocacy on tribal issues, has previously condemned actions perceived as “state-sponsored intimidation” against Kuki leaders, such as the FIR against a Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) official in 2025. The organisation has also met with the Union Tribal Affairs Minister to discuss displacement and insecurity in Manipur, submitting memorandums detailing the trauma faced by affected communities.
The request comes amid heightened calls from Kuki-Zo groups for a separate administration in Manipur’s hill districts, citing ongoing ethnic tensions with the Meitei community. The conflict has resulted in over 250 deaths, mass displacements, and allegations of targeted violence, with repeated demands for a Union Territory under Article 239A of the Constitution.
On January 14, 2026, Kuki-Zo tribals organised a mass rally to press for this separation, refusing to return to Imphal or accept the pre-conflict status quo. The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) recently reiterated these demands in a memorandum to Home Minister Amit Shah, urging expedited political talks with the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF).
The President’s office has yet to respond to ABAVP’s request, though Kuki-Zo leaders have previously appealed directly to President Murmu during her visits to the region. As Manipur remains under central oversight following periods of instability, this appeal underscores the urgency for high-level engagement to restore peace and protect tribal rights.
Jadhav concluded his letter with contact details for coordination, expressing “profound respect and highest consideration” for the President’s office. Observers note that such a meeting, if granted, could mark a significant step toward addressing the entrenched divisions in the state.
