A day after Manipur’s Naga Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho accused fellow Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and her husband of fuelling the Naga-Kuki conflict, Kipgen, a Kuki, told DH on Thursday that the charges a…

A day after Manipur’s Naga Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho accused fellow Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and her husband of fuelling the Naga-Kuki conflict, Kipgen, a Kuki, told DH on Thursday that the charges are baseless and risk creating disharmony between the two communities. Excerpts from the interview:The Yumnam Khemchand Singh-led government took charge in February with the aim of improving Manipur’s law and order. Why hasn’t the situation improved yet?Restoring law and order remains my foremost priority, and I am committed to achieving a just and lasting resolution. The people of Manipur have endured immense suffering and deserve peace, safety and stability. But improving ground realities requires collective responsibility. All stakeholders and political leaders must reject communal narratives, rise above ethnic divisions and uphold justice impartially. Peace becomes difficult when administrative or security measures are viewed through a partisan lens, making a shared commitment to neutrality essential.306 killed, 49 missing in ethnic violence since May 2023: Manipur HM Govindas Konthoujam tells assemblyDH interview | Naga MLAs may pull out if Kuki leader Nemcha Kipgen is spared, warns Manipur Deputy CM Losii DikhoIn an interview with DH on Wednesday, Losii Dikho alleged that your office is colluding with KNF(P), an armed group headed by your husband (under the Suspension of Operations agreement), to carry out attacks on Nagas.The allegations are vexatious and baseless. As Deputy chief minister, Dikho should refrain from making such claims, which risk creating disharmony between the two communities. Throughout this crisis, I have consistently gone beyond my official responsibilities to prevent violence and protect lives. Regarding the accusations of collusion, I deny all speculative or accusatory claims. Such rhetoric only deepens mistrust. Matters relating to armed groups fall under the SoO framework, which has its own monitoring mechanism. I fully respect the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs to address these issues appropriately.He also alleged that you joined reconciliation efforts initiated by the Khemchand government.Peacebuilding cannot be measured solely through public visits. My focus has been on concrete actions — consistently urging CSOs and youth in my community to exercise restraint and allow the law to take its course. I also sought to open dialogue with Naga CSOs through Deputy chief minister Losii Dikho, but those attempts did not materialise.Nagas and Meiteis have intensified the demand for National Register of Citizens (NRC) .Manipur Assembly again passes resolution for NRC amid growing agitation, violenceI believe any exercise relating to citizenship or demographic verification must strictly follow the Indian Constitution and central statutes. I do not oppose lawful processes in principle. However, any NRC implementation must ensure transparency, fairness and strong safeguards so that legitimate indigenous tribal citizens are protected from arbitrary hardship or political misuse.What is the possible solution to end the conflict in Manipur?A durable solution requires moving beyond temporary measures to a comprehensive, structural approach. First, physical security and neutrality must be prioritised to protect vulnerable populations. Second, community leaders must take impartial roles in rebuilding trust through genuine confidence‑building measures, mutual respect, and dialogue aimed at a peaceful resolution.

Source: Deccan Herald