Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga turns mediator

A four-member delegation of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) is likely to meet Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday following the intervention of Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga who has convinced the Kuki-Zo community to hold talks with the central leadership. With Mizoram going for assembly polls by this year-end, the issue of Zo people's unity has become a key factor in Mizoram.

ITLF, an umbrella organisation of tribes in Manipur, had refused to hold any discussion with Manipur CM N Biren Singh.

When the ITLF consulted him on whether to respond to the invitation by the home minister, Zoramthanga, who had facilitated similar negotiations with different outfits in the past, stated on his official Instagram handle: "I suggested that they accept the invitation. I told them that it is a good opportunity to have a face-to-face discussion with the home minister." The meeting is likely to take place on Tuesday, he said.


Subsequently, the ITLF leaders reached the Mizoram capital from Churachandpur in Manipur and will fly to Delhi from the Lengpui airport near Aizawl. Senior ITLF leader and spokesman Ginza Vualzong claimed that they could not travel to Imphal from Churachandpur due to the Meiteis' threat. They had to go to Aizawl to board the Delhi-bound flight.

The ITLF leaders said, "We will press for early solutions to our demands as the Manipur situation has been deteriorating fast."