Caught Pants Down, Biren Singh in Denial Mode. Will the Centre Act?

Moments after a damning audio clip wherein Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh admitted his responsibility and roles in the ongoing ethnic cleansing pogrom against the Kuki-Zo people landed in the public domain, the Manipur CM swiftly activated his publicity machines to deny the audio clip. A late-night statement issued by the DIPR Manipur dismissed the audio clip as ‘doctored’ and ‘aiming at derailing the peace process.’

The DIPR press release also described the clip as a “malicious attempt” to incite communal violence and derail the peace process. “Our Social media analysis indicates a coordinated campaign is underway, with multiple accounts sharing the clip with similar captions.”

“The Manipur Police is actively investigating the matter and is committed to uncovering the origins of this defamatory campaign,” the DIPR press release stated while warning that legal action would be taken against ‘all individuals and organisations involved in this conspiracy.’

The manoeuvre is not surprising at all though, because, it is hard to swallow the truth. N. Biren Singh is notoriously known for propagating lies as evident throughout the course of his ethnic cleansing campaign against the Kuki-Zo people. He might deny the audio clip as his, but his pretence would not affect the fact by any slightest means. It is just a confession of the facts that everyone already knows to be the truth.

Ever since he unleashed mayhem on the Kuki-Zo people last year, the mastermind of the pogrom N. Biren Singh keeps on changing his narratives. The origin of the pogrom zeroed in on him closer after every attempt he made to change the narratives to suit his agenda. Now that he is caught in the act, it is only obvious that he made one last-ditch attempt to deny his actions. A preponderance of evidence against him has accumulated over time.

The authenticity of the audio clip was proven beyond doubt. No rocket science knowledge is required to ascertain that the voice in the clip – the tone and tenor of the speaker, could be others’ or being ‘doctored.’ N. Biren Singh should impudently admit and either run or give in.

Time and again, the State’s publicity department, the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, has stooped low by allowing itself to be the propaganda machine of communal leaders such as N. Biren Singh whose incompetency is known widely. As a responsible government department, the DIPR should mind maintaining its neutrality and image lest it lose public trust.

When the majority of the people, including among the Meitei populace are holding Mr N. Biren Singh responsible and accountable for the violence besieging the State, some few bureaucrats, including those at the publicity department are acting at his behest submissively and meekly. This is one primary reason that keeps the flame of the violence simmering.

To get down to brass tacks, the audio is not doctored and the attempt is not malicious to incite communal violence or to derail the peace process. The fact is that the voice in the audio is that of Mr. N. Biren Singh. He is the one who incited communal violence and the process of peace will never fructify under his leadership.

The public is not in a fool’s paradise to believe and accept what Biren Singh and his sidekicks say as the gospel truth. People do not expect ‘peace and harmony’ among communities from the ones who started the violence.

The Manipur Police is not required to investigate the matter. They are in the know who is responsible for the communal violence and they need to boldly come out in public and admit that they get commands and orders to torture and kill Kuki-Zo people from N. Biren Singh. Legal action should be taken against N. Biren Singh. Only then, peace will return. Is the Centre hearing?