18 Manipur MLAs camp in Delhi to push peace efforts

A delegation of 18 legislators from strife-torn Manipur's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in New Delhi to meet central government leaders and speed up peace efforts in the northeastern state.

The team, which includes ministers Y Khemchand and Bishwajit Singh, has been camping in Delhi for the last three days, according to sources, in a bid to persuade the central government to take immediate steps to end the ethnic violence in Manipur that started in early May over a court order for granting scheduled tribe status to the majority Meitie ethnic group.

Sectarian violence which started in the state on May 3 has left at least 175 people dead, more than 1,100 injured and thousands displaced. Police said 32 people are still missing.


State chief minister N Biren Singh is not part of the visiting delegation, which has drawn caustic remarks from the Opposition Congress.