In Manipur, the Centre forms Peace Committee headed by Governor

The central government has set up a Peace Committee in Manipur, chaired by the State Governor, to facilitate the peacemaking process among the state’s diverse ethnic groups, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday.

Members of the peace committee include the Chief Minister, many Ministers from the Manipur administration, Members of Parliament, MLAs, and leaders from other political parties. Former public officers, educators, litterateurs, artists, social workers, and representatives from various ethnic groups are also on the Committee.

The committee will be overseeing the ongoing peacemaking process among the state’s many ethnic groups, including peaceful negotiations and talks between warring parties and groupings, the Ministry of Home Affairs has briefed in a statement.

Peace Committee includes top government and non-government voices

Members of the peace committee include the Chief Minister, many Ministers from the Manipur administration, Members of Parliament, MLAs, and leaders from other political parties. Former public officers, educators, litterateurs, artists, social workers, and representatives from various ethnic groups are also on the Committee.

“The committee should strengthen social cohesiveness, mutual understanding and facilitate cordial communication between various ethnic groups” it read. The group was constituted just days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the formation of the peace committee during his four-day visit to Manipur between May 29 and June 1.

On May 3, violence occurred in Manipur during a demonstration organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to oppose the inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. The march was organised in response to an April 19 Manipur High Court decision calling for the inclusion of the state’s Meitei population under the ST category.

For over a month, violence has seized the whole state, forcing the central government to deploy paramilitary troops to put the situation under control.