Biren Singh's Claims on PA Sangma's Views on Smaller States Challenged: Unity More Threatened by Divisive Politics than Ethnic Statehood

Contrary to the claims of Mr. Biren Singh, ex-chief minister of Manipur and the alleged main conspirator behind the ethnic violence in Manipur regarding former Meghalaya chief minister, the late Mr. PA Sangma’s stance on creation of smaller states in the eastern region to uphold regional autonomy, it is rather the divisive, communal and majoritarian politics that harm the unity of the nation more than dividing the states on ethnic lines. The existing states with different ethnicities but with the same patriotism, loyalty and love for our country is the proof if he may need one.

The idea of India as envisaged by our founding fathers is unity in diversity and harmonious co-existence of different races, castes, creeds and genders whereby each and every citizen is equal before the eye of law, the states and its agencies like the state government. Thus, when any government or any leader pitches for any particular community and spreads hatred towards a particular community, it is no one but that government or that leader who murder the idea of India alongside killing the dignity and equality their victims are entitled to as Indians by the constitution of India.

Much before Mr. Biren’s audio tape which prove the allegations made against him as being the main conspirator of the ethnic violence got leaked, his social media account replies way back before the ethnic violence act a infallible evidence to his animosity and hatred towards the Kukis even if he dismissed his discriminatory actions and policies towards the Kukis as a normal administrative exercise. Breeding and unchecking the growth of organisations like those of Haomee Federation that fuelled fake conspiracies and hatred against the Kukis is something he cannot rubb off either. Thus the question is, can someone who murder the idea of India and practice hate and discriminatory politics towards a particular community have the moral and ethical right to preach others on the unity of the nation?

As a wise man once said, times change and we change with time. As a tribal leader who represented tribals across India, had the tragedy which the Kukis have been subjected to today been subjugated while he was alive, Mr. Sangma would not have pitched in for Mr. Biren. Manipur was a once a home to Kukis as well, but who made the place they once called home “A HELL ON EARTH” for them? Thus, people study history to evade the blunder committed in the past, for history repeats in itself if the same policies are implemented and actions are committed. Thus if today there arises the issues of disintegration of Manipur, it was the divisive, communal and majoritarianism politics that is responsible.

The issues of illegal immigrants and drugs are pan-community problems in Manipur where Kukis are scapegoated easily, the million dollar question however is, who makes these issues a communal one? They are problems that can be solved through government effective policies and actions. Who is playing the power politics here? A former chief minister who divides even today the people of Indian-born and raised up in Manipur into two viz, INDIGENOUS AND NON-INDIGENOUS, who proudly express his role in the implementation of ILP in the state to protect his so called Indigenous people but oppose when victims of his politics demand for a solution that protects their life, ethnicity, culture, language and dignity which are presently threatened in the state of Manipur, communal and divisive politics surely is one of the actors playing the power politics here.

One must accept the problem first if they want a solution. Leaders across all political parties and civil society organisation from the majority community are too fearful or too absorbed themselves. They are not yet ready to accept that the majority of their people are now being radicalised to hate a particular community and they are brainwashed to believe that they are not even Indians but illegal immigrants. Thus the question is, when this hate and divisive ideology has been entrenched deeply into the minds of the majority community and their leaders, what is the peace we are talking about? Surrendering of Kukis as a second class citizen in their own country or guaranteed justice in the form of separate administration. For we see no tall leaders preaching communal harmony or correcting fake and hate news being spread against the Kukis in the state so far, a corrective step necessary to harmonise the state and to bring the minority community into confidence.

If the respect for dignity and equality for all as envisaged in the constitution of India is what BJP believes, then Separate Administration as a solution demanded by Kukis is something they must be guaranteed in return. One size does not fit all, every problem requires different solutions

The unity in diversity ideology should thus incorporate the creation of smaller states to ensure their cultures, religion, language, identity and dignity are preserved because their patriotism, loyalty and love for the country is not diminished with their demands. Rather it is their belief in the systems and the constitution of the country that they seek the protections within the walls laid down in the constitution.

There is no smoke without fire. Thus in a police-administrative set up where different communities feel protected and equally treated and respected, unanimous voice for separate administration in a community would not have arisen, is what the political leaders in the state and our countries must acknowledge because peace cannot be kept by force but it can only be achieved by understanding.