"Will Personally Invite Kuki-Zo MLAs To Attend Assembly Session": Manipur Chief Minister

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh today said he will personally send invitations to 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs to attend the upcoming assembly session.

"I will personally extend the invitations, as well as through the assembly. They (Kuki-Zo MLAs) should join us, and we are ready to cooperate," Mr Singh told reporters.

The comments come ahead of the sixth session of the Manipur assembly scheduled from July 31 to August 6.

The 10 Kuki MLAs, including two ministers, did not attend the last two sessions due to the ethnic violence.

The fifth session was held from February 28 to March 5. The fourth session on August 29 last year was adjourned after just 11 minutes, with none of the Kuki-Zo MLAs in attendance.

Mr Singh also mentioned about his upcoming trip to Delhi, where he plans to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"My visit to Delhi is for the NITI Aayog meeting. Following this, there will be a chief ministers' conclave where we will discuss various issues. I will address the current situation in the state and seek immediate solutions to the ongoing crisis. I am optimistic that positive outcomes will result," Mr Singh said before leaving for the national capital.

On an incident of arson in Jiribam district on Wednesday night, Mr Singh said, "I have conducted investigations and spoken with leaders from both communities. There is no indication of involvement from either community. Police are actively pursuing the perpetrators. This seems to be the work of people seeking to perpetuate violence."

Unidentified people set ablaze an abandoned house at Borobekra in Jiribam district on Wednesday night, police said. The house was abandoned by its owner after violence broke out in the district, they added.