{"id":62547,"date":"2025-09-09T11:03:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T05:33:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=62547"},"modified":"2025-09-09T11:03:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T05:33:13","slug":"mhas-twin-decisions-soo-renewal-and-nh-02-reopening-in-manipur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/mhas-twin-decisions-soo-renewal-and-nh-02-reopening-in-manipur\/","title":{"rendered":"MHA\u2019s Twin Decisions: SoO Renewal and NH-02 Reopening in Manipur"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Manipur SoO Agreement Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ahead of PM Modi\u2019s upcoming visit to Manipur, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced two important steps.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, it <\/span><b>renewed the Suspension of Operations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups under the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People\u2019s Front (UPF), with renegotiated terms.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Second, it secured an agreement with the Kuki-Zo Council to <\/span><b>reopen National Highway-02<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a vital route for the movement of commuters and essential supplies.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These measures are seen as crucial for easing tensions and restoring some normalcy in the state, which has been grappling with <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/violence-in-manipur\/\" target=\"_blank\">ethnic conflict<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> since May 2023.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>The SoO Agreement and Its Breakdown in Manipur<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, signed in 2008 as a <\/span><b>tripartite ceasefire<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> between the Centre, Manipur government, and Kuki insurgent groups under KNO and UPF, aimed to facilitate political dialogue.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was periodically renewed until March 2023, when the Biren Singh government withdrew from the pact with the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) and Kuki National Army (KNA), accusing them of fuelling unrest in Churachandpur after eviction drives.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the ethnic violence between Kukis and Meiteis in May 2023, insurgent groups on both sides became active in the conflict, leading to the complete lapse of the SoO agreement in 2024.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Renegotiated Terms of the SoO Agreement<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The renewed SoO agreement, according to the MHA, requires Kuki militant groups under KNO and UPF to uphold Manipur\u2019s territorial integrity and pursue a negotiated political solution.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key provisions include <\/span><b>relocating camps from sensitive fringe areas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are 14 Kuki militant camps in hills of Manipur; seven are at the periphery of the Kuki-dominated hills, near the Meitei-dominated valley.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meiteis have long called for these camps\u2019 relocation, alleging that they are used to launch attacks on nearby Meitei villages.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also includes consolidation of smaller camps into larger ones, and depositing weapons with CRPF or BSF to prevent misuse.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cadres will undergo strict physical verification, with identity cards issued and movements regulated through local police stations, while foreign nationals will be removed from lists.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remuneration will now be transferred directly to cadres\u2019 bank accounts to ensure transparency.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Joint Monitoring Group will oversee enforcement, with violations potentially leading to a review of the pact.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Government Response to Kuki Demands<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Centre has addressed several key Kuki demands, including the <\/span><b>removal of Biren Singh as Manipur\u2019s Chief Minister<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, whom hill tribes accused of partisanship during the ethnic conflict.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the imposition of President\u2019s Rule in February, Kuki militant groups began engaging in talks with the government.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another major concern was the <\/span><b>unchecked activity of Valley-based Meitei insurgent groups in Imphal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To address this, the government signed a peace pact with the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) in November 2023.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Camps for UNLF cadres are now being set up, with ID cards being prepared, and the process is close to completion.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Mixed Reactions to the Renewed SoO Agreement<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The renewal of the SoO agreement has drawn sharp responses from both Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Meitei civil society organisation, condemned the deal, calling it <\/span><b>undue legitimacy for \u201carmed narco-terrorist groups<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d and objected to <\/span><b>Manipur\u2019s state government being a party while under President\u2019s Rule<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the Kuki-Zo side, the inclusion of a clause affirming Manipur\u2019s \u201cterritorial integrity\u201d raised concerns, as their central demand has been for a separate administration.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, other Kuki groups argued that the agreement\u2019s reference to a \u201cnegotiated political solution\u201d leaves room to pursue their demand.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Controversy Over \u2018Free Movement\u2019 on NH-02<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The conflict in Manipur has hardened inter-district boundaries, restricting safe movement between Kuki-Zo and Meitei-majority areas.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While restoring free movement of people and goods has been a key government goal under President\u2019s Rule, Kuki-Zo groups have resisted until their political demands are addressed.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, alongside the renewed SoO deal, the MHA announced that the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) had agreed to open National Highway-02.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, Kuki-Zo groups quickly contested the claim, stating that essential goods were already moving and that the term \u201cfree movement\u201d was vague.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They stressed cooperation with security forces did not imply consent for unrestricted Meitei movement in Kuki areas.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, no reciprocal commitment had been made by Meitei groups. Within hours, the KZC clarified its statement, saying it should not be read as endorsing unrestricted movement across buffer zones.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-politics\/ahead-of-pm-modis-visit-to-manipur-significance-of-mhas-two-key-announcements-10234679\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hindustantimes.com\/india-news\/peace-hopes-rise-as-key-manipur-pact-signed-nh-opened-101757011722368.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">HT<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/theprint.in\/india\/governance\/breakthrough-before-pms-likely-manipur-visit-mha-kuki-zo-groups-renew-arms-down-pact-nh-2-to-reopen\/2736065\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MHA renews SoO pact with Kuki groups and reopens NH-02 via Kuki-Zo Council. Key moves to ease tensions ahead of PM Modi\u2019s Manipur visit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":62564,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,2572,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-62547","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-manipur-soo-agreement","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62547","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62547"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62547\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62564"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}