Complicity of Centre in Ethnic Cleansing Pogrom: An Escalating Threat to Kuki-Zo People's Existence

It is shameful and beggars belief that the Solicitor General (SG) of the Government of India, Tushar Mehta, has the audacity to blatantly lie to the Supreme Court of India, while representing the Centre over a writ petition filed against the fascist Meitei Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh, over his explosive whistleblower’s audiotapes.

Unprofessionally and without cross-checking the facts, SG Tushar Mehta, on November 8, submitted his arguments to the Supreme Court that “CM [N. Biren Singh] is meeting all Kuki MLAs and trying to bring the situation down to get peace”, which is a blatant lie and tantamount to misleading the highest Court of the Country. In fact, the narcissistic Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, the main architect of the violence, cannot assert such negotiations for peace talk while continuing the ethnic cleansing of Kuki-Zo people.

This unsolicited and blatant lie of the Solicitor General of India, who represents the Centre in the Court, has proven beyond doubt that even the Government of India is complicit with the Meiteis and their government to annihilate the minority Kuki-Zo people in Manipur. This has become a cause of serious concern as it will result in further escalation of grave threats being launched on the existence of Kuki-Zo people in their own ancestral land.

This is not the first time that the Government of India has misled the Apex Court since the beginning of the state-sponsored ethnic cleansing pogrom which erupted on May 3 last year. In August 2023, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had also told the Supreme Court that most of the Kuki-Zo dead bodies lying in the morgues of Imphal Hospitals were of infiltrators, which was a blatant lie and devoid of any facts.

“I didn’t want to say this but most of the unclaimed dead bodies are those infiltrators who came with a particular design and got killed,” the S-G had shamefully told a three-judge bench presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud that took up petitions related to the Manipur violence. The fact was that all the victims of Meiteis’ atrocities were of true Indian citizens who were selectively raped and murdered, tortured to death or burnt alive just because they belong to Kuki-Zo ethnic groups.

The Solicitor General’s constant lies aligning with Meiteis’ fabricated narratives have exposed a shocking collusion of the BJP’s “Double-Engine” governments at the Centre and State, thus betraying the people’s trust in the establishments. It also proved that the ongoing violence in Manipur is “state-sponsored ethnic cleansing pogrom.”

Notably, there has been normalisation or institutionalisation of lies and vicious politics being played in the ongoing Manipur conflict that even the official legal representative of the present regime at the Centre has to align with Meiteis’ false narratives. In such a collusion of the State and Centre over the mayhem, the Kuki-Zo tribals remain victims of this systematic injustice.

What will happen if the Government of India continuously misleads the highest court of the land about the mayhem in Manipur? Can justice be delivered by spreading/presenting false narratives of the Meiteis and their communal State government? Why is the Government of India complicit with the dictatorship of N. Biren Singh, while dehumanising the minority tribals who are the real victims?

In a statement issued on November 10, the Kuki MLAs have clarified that they had never had any meeting with the Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh since May 3, 2023, nor have any intention to meet him in future as he is the mastermind behind the violence and ethnic cleansing of the Kuki-Zo people from the Imphal valley, which is continuing till today.

While condemning the Solicitor General’s unprofessional conduct of submitting arguments before the Supreme Court without cross checking the facts, the MLAs - including Haokholet Kipgen from Saitu A/C, Nemcha Kipgen from Kangpokpi A/C, Kimneo Haokip Hangshing from Saikul A/C, Letpao Haokip from Tengnoupal A/C, Paolenlal Haokip from Saikot A/C, LM Khaute from Churachandpur A/C, Chinlunthang from Singngat A/C, Letzamang Haokip from Henglep A/C, Vungjagin Valte from Thanlon A/C and Ngursanglur from Tipaimukh A/C - have categorically stated that S-G Tushar Mehta’s submission to the Supreme Court was a blatant lie and tantamount to misleading the Apex Court.

With the continued ethnic persecution and dehumanisation of the minority tribals still ongoing even after more than one and half years, the Kuki-Zo people continue to legitimately seek justice. They stand resolute in their commitment to defend themselves and repel any attack that threatens their communities’ existence.

The Government of India must know that the Kukis’ unwavering determination to protect their people and their land is steadfast, and they will not hesitate to take action against any threat to their safety and security. Kuki-Zo people will not rest until justice is served and those responsible for the ethnic cleansing pogrom are held accountable for their inhumane actions.