DUBIOUS Allegiance: Indian Navy or Manipuri First?

Jawaharlal Nehru once said that to be secure on land, we must be supreme on the sea. Thus the commission of INS Imphal today was a happy moment for all Indians. Indian Navy being one of the three armed wings that protect India’s sovereignty from the enemy both within and outside, the insensitivity of some naval staff belonging to the Meitei community by posting themselves aboard a national naval ship with the salai-taret flag which reminds the Kuki-Zo people of the atrocities and cruelty perpetrated against them, is simply uncalled for on their part; promoting fraternity is as much their duty as is guarding India on the sea. The Indian Navy, known for its unwavering commitment to the country, operates with an unwritten moral code—a dedication where India stands as the foremost priority. Any action that deviates from this principle questions the integrity of a soldier.

The salai-taret flag represents the same image of cruelty as does the swastika nazi flag to the victims of nazism in Europe and the rising sun flag in Korea, China, Russia, and Taiwan and with Allied WWII Veterans, where it is associated with Japanese war crimes, the Axis of World War II, Japanese militarism and imperialism. The said flag can be seen unfurled atop the burnt churches and towns of Kukis by the Meitei as a sign of their victory. Members and leaders of the Arambai Tenggols and Meitei Leepun - the main perpetrators of atrocities and inhumane crimes against the Kuki-Zo - also carry it with them on their vehicles and when they come to attack the Kuki-Zo villages.

By posing themselves with the salai-taret flag on board a national naval ship, what messages do these Indian naval staff from the Meitei community intend to convey? That they are Manipuri first and Indian Navy later? Do they want us to remember the allegiance local people had towards their native States during the first war of Indian independence or the sepoy mutiny in 1857? The intention is double. Replacing the national flag with any other flag, regardless of the reason, raises concerns about allegiance and respect. For those in the Indian Navy, India is not just a place; it’s the heart and soul of their service. Anything that undermines this ethos does not reflect the true spirit of a soldier.

It is sad to see the silence and inaction on the part of government authorities on these naval staff for promoting hatred and extending their support and approval for the inhumane crimes committed against the Kuki-Zo community. When they should be the ones showing exemplary actions of fulfilling their fundamental duties of abiding by the constitution, respecting the national flag and anthem, and developing the spirit of common brotherhood, they instead utilize an important occasion like today as a means of propagating divisive and discriminatory actions that are against the spirit and ideals of the Indian Constitution. Strict action should be taken against them as an exemplary action to ensure no government officials and employees commit the same mistakes.