12 Standard Minister Susindro Teaches History; Forgets He's Cabinet Minister Not Only For The Meitei Community

What’s common among Indian politicians is their comical statement when facing the media persons. The latest being the Meitei politician Leishangthem Susindro Meitei, a cabinet minister in the Manipur government, making unreasonable statements just to please and fool his own people.

CAF&PD minister Susindro while talking to media persons makes many unsubstantiated statements – from teaching a renowned professor about history to blaming the previous government for the current turmoil.

Taking a jibe at INC candidate for Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, Susindro said the professor should focus more on history and do more reading about Manipur. What’s funny here is Mr Susindro, who according to his election affidavit is only 12 passed, is teaching about history to a professor who served in one of the best Universities in the country. According to his election affidavit, Mr. Susindro is only 12 pass from Ng. Mani College in 2001.

Susindro’s ignorance is also witnessed in his statement when he said Anglo-Kuki war was a fictional narrative made by the Kukis. The fact is that the Anglo-Kuki War or the Kuki Rebellion 1917-19 was one of the lengthiest battles fought against the erstwhile British Empire in North East India. This has been corroborated by many historians and British Political Agents in their writings. A 12th pass individual who came to hold political position just because of his thick wallet should not be murmuring about historical events. The Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) too included in the history subject for Class – VIII standard. If Susindro is keen on the factuality of the Anglo-Kuki War, the Kukis can suggest to him many books written about the Anglo-Kuki war for reading. He however may find it hard to grasp the topic as his educational standard suggests otherwise.

Susindro in his sheer ignorance claimed that it was the Congress government who accorded recognition to the Anglo-Kuki war. But, he should be reminded that it was his (the BJP) government who recognized the Kuki Rising (Anglo-Kuki War) and declared it as a Restricted Holiday in Manipur on December 3, 2020.

Susindro, in his statement, suggested that he appreciated conflicts and wars as he praised the procurement of war outfits by Licypriya Kangujam, the self-styled climate activist. He used this as a means to disparage the Congress candidate. According to him, anyone who sponsored boots and camouflage for the Meitei radicals during this ethnic cleansing pogrom is an educated one. Susindro must also realize that the position he holds now is for all the people of Manipur, not only of the Meitei community. He speaks as if his ministership is only for a particular community. This is unbecoming of a state Minister to directly make derogatory statements against one community. His statement goes against the Kukis, holding them responsible for the current violence. It was the current dispensation’s ill policy towards the Kuki tribal people that led to chaos and misunderstanding in the state.

Susindro also blamed the previous Congress government for the current violence. He said it was the Congress government who signed SoO with a Myanmarese Thanglianpau, who brought in lots of Myanmarese and they are now creating trouble in the state. This seed of division was planted by the Congress, he added. However, upon verification, the statement lacks substance as Mr. Thanglianpau is a bonafide citizen of India. The Central government must be aware if he (Thanglianpau) was actually an illegal immigrant while signing the SoO pact. The Myanmarese who fled the Junta war in Myanmar are well-documented and kept in detention centres opened in various hill districts which share borders with Myanmar. There is no question of Myanmarese involvement in the current violence. This statement by a Cabinet Minister is just a political gimmick to disparage the opposition party for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.