BJP's Alleged Role in Kuki Attacks Raises Questions of Party's Integrity and Leadership

The Kukis have shown their faith in the BJP by electing 7 MLAs from the BJP party itself, the other 2 from the Kuki’s own political party KPA and an independent MLA supporting the BJP government in Manipur. The direct involvement of key leaders from BJYM and BJP is a betrayal of the trust of the Kuki netizens in the BJP party and the Narendra Modi government. Will the BJP in particular and Narendra Modi, in general, hold their workers accountable or be a washing machine that washes away their crimes?

On January 30, 2024, Manoharmayum Barish Sharma, a former president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha - the youth wing of the BJP - sustained injuries in the firing while attacking the Kukis in Kangpokpi district. On February 13 2024 another attempt to attack the Kukis in the Kangpokpi district was spearheaded by Arambai Tenggols and UNLF. Among the injured militia were two top BJP youth leaders viz Sinam Shyam and Haobam Lukhoi each holding the post of secretary and Executive member of BJYM respectively. BJP Rajyashabha MP and the titular king of Manipur abode is a safe military base for those who call themselves Arambai Tenggol. The presence of members of another terrorist outfit in his home who shield behind the Arambai Tenggol is a high possibility. The silence and inaction of the BJP government and BJP party unit in Manipur despite the evidence is telling of their involvement. The BJP unit of Manipur is thus a key player in this genocide pogrom against the Kukis.

The silence of the state government and central government in general and the BJP party in particular and their Inactions against them is rather unfortunate. One could not help but question the possibility of Delhi and Nagpur’s involvement in the present Manipur crisis. They should come out of the closets, or else the theory that the winds blew against the BJP of persecuting the minority based on religion will hold true. Above that one shall take the opportunity to tag them as an Anti-Tribal. The world is a global community and international politics is as unpredictable as the stock market. Will the BJP endanger India’s image globally to save their workers in their genocide pogrom? It would rather be wise to send a signal to all communal forces existing in India that malign India and the Modi government’s image that there is no room for hatred and communal forces in India. With Modi’s target of 400 seats in his 3rd term, won’t he need the support of all not only Meitei to achieve his goal?

Supporting Meitei and the BJP unit in Manipur will be not in India’s and BJP’s interest. The Meiteis’ hatred for the Indian Army will doubt the NAMO government on their patriotism, their demands for STs despite their economic, scientific, civilization and literacy development shall be seen as a threat by other STs from Manipur and other states and its spillover effect of other developed community into asking one, the attacks on Jesus and religious institutions will not favour them among the minority groups, rational Hindus will hate the Meiteis who are Sanamahis for waging the war in their name.

India will be seen as a state-sponsored genocide pogrom enabler, as an intolerant and unsecular country while BJP shall be seen as an Anti-Minority, intolerant and communal party. India has to compromise its foreign policy and will face a setback and hurdle on the International stage and organizations. Is only one Meitei MP worth India’s interest and international image  and  the  BJP’s  Game  of  Thrones?

The government may come and go, but India shall exist so long as earth herself sustains. Coming out of the closets and holding the culprits accountable will save India’s interest, Modi’s strong image and the BJP’s electoral politics. When United Kuki is worth one MP as well, will the BJP choose to betray the Kukis to save the war-monger BJP unit in Manipur? Their silence is no longer seen as being neutral but as their permission to go ahead with the war with members of their party’s direct involvement. A patriot and a state man will choose India over a criminal. Thus the BJP unit’s involvement in the pogrom is a litmus test of Modi and the BJP. What will their answer be? A politician and opportunist or statesman and patriotic?