The move by Meitei MLA and BJP leader Yumnam Khemchand Singh to visit a relief camp housing displaced Kuki-Zo families – the first such outreach across the community divide by a political leader in the state – has been welcomed as “encouraging” by his party and Meitei organisations.
Soon after Khemchand’s visit, Kuki-Zo groups had issued a statement dismissing it as a “publicity stunt”.
A minister in the N Biren Singh-led BJP government in the state, Khemchand had joined the camp opposed to Biren’s leadership in the wake of the conflict, with many blaming the Chief Minister for the crisis continuing more than two-and-a-half years after it started.
Khemchand visited a relief camp in a Kuki village in Naga-majority Ukhrul district Monday, and interacted with those displaced by the conflict housed there. His office shared photos of him with inmates of the relief camp, including those of him carrying a small girl in his arms.
Soon after his visit, a ‘clarification’ was released by the in-charge of the relief camp, Lunkhojang Baite, denouncing Khemchand’s visit as “uninvited”, saying he had dropped in without informing local Kuki organisations like the Kuki Inpi Ukhrul and the Kuki Students’ Organization Ukhrul, when most of the people living there had gone out to work for the day.
The Kuki-Zo Council also slammed Khemchand’s visit as an “irresponsible publicity stunt”. It referred to the start of the ethnic violence in May 2023 and said: “What prevented him from speaking then? His silence during the tragedy and sudden concern now do not align. The wounds are deep, trust has been shattered, and no symbolic drop-in can undo the trauma faced by our people.”
Khemchand did not respond to multiple calls and messages by The Indian Express. While his team said the visit was undertaken in a personal capacity, the BJP said it supports its MLA’s move.
“This outreach is very good and encouraging. All BJP legislators are trying to reach out to displaced people who are in the hills. The problem is that the government is reluctant to allow any legislator to go and meet them, as they cannot predict what can happen, if there’s any disturbance because of that. So clandestinely, the other legislators are also reaching out, over the phone and by trying to send people who are acceptable to them (the Kukis),” Lamlai MLA and BJP spokesperson Khongbantabam Ibomcha said.
The convenor of the prominent Meitei organization COCOMI, Khuraijam Athouba, said the outreach by Khemchand was “welcome” despite its limitations, and remarked that the political leadership had failed to do this during the crisis.
“These are things which have been pending for the last over two-and-a-half years and have been avoided by the political leadership. The Centre too has not tried to facilitate these kinds of initiatives,” Althouba said, adding that even if Khemchand’s visit was “surprised” or “unannounced”, “it is key for peace initiatives”.
Calling the reaction from Kuki-Zo groups “unfortunate,” Althouba said: “It appears that they are not ready to restore peace till their demand for separation (as a Union Territory) is met. But this initiative should be reciprocated by leaders from both sides.”
The COCOMI convenor said that perhaps leaders have little choice but to carry out such outreach “unannounced”, as “some people want to disturb any peace initiatives”.