Meeting in Kangpokpi Sadar Hills, CoTU organized a public consultation to address growing concerns over the recent agreement between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Suspension of Operation (SoO) groups — KNO and UPF. While the agreement promised a “time-bound political settlement,”
BY PC Bureau
September 13, 2025 — Just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his visit to the tribal district of Churachandpur, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) issued a strong resolution reaffirming the Kuki-Zo community’s unwavering demand for a separate Union Territory.
The resolution, adopted at a public meeting in Kangpokpi Sadar Hills on Saturday, came in response to the recent negotiations held between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and representatives of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) groups — the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF). The talks, held earlier this month on September 3–4 with the participation of the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), resulted in an agreement for a “time-bound negotiated political settlement.”
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However, the CoTU expressed concerns that the agreement appeared “two-faced” and could dilute the core aspiration of the Kuki-Zo people. To dispel doubts and reassert their collective stand, the tribal body convened a public consultation where leaders, CSOs, and community members pledged to stand firmly by the demand for separate administration.
In the resolution, the SoO representatives reaffirmed their commitment to never deviate from the people’s aspiration for Union Territory status. They also took a solemn oath that no decision would be made without consultation with the public, signaling a binding commitment to transparency and accountability in the negotiation process.
The Kuki-Zo community further resolved to uphold the Eight-Point Public Resolution adopted on the 22nd Remembrance Day at the Martyr’s Cemetery in Phaijang — a historic declaration seen as the moral compass of the ongoing political movement.
While acknowledging the Government of India’s extension of the SoO agreement with the UPF and KNO, CoTU hailed the reaffirmation of the Union Territory demand as “a significant step” in the struggle for Separate Administration. The resolution underscored that any compromise or deviation from this cause would amount to a betrayal of the community’s martyrs and their sacrifices.
The timing of the resolution — issued as Modi departed from Churachandpur after inaugurating projects worth ₹7,300 crore and meeting displaced families — highlights the deepening divide between promises of development from New Delhi and the persistent political aspirations of the Kuki-Zo people.
