Manipur Crisis Not in Priority List? President Murmu Fails to Mention Conflict in Her Address to Parliament

While the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, in a nearly hour-long speech to the joint sitting of Parliament, mentioned the North East, she failed to specifically refer even once to the state-sponsored ethnic cleansing pogrom against the minority communities under the fascist regime of narcissist N. Biren Singh, the chief minister of Meiteis’ Kangleipak.

The Indian state of Manipur is in the middle of a civil war between the majority Meitei and minority Christian communities of Kuki ethnic tribes. In the last 13 months of ethnic pogrom, more than 350 churches have been torched, more than 200 people killed, and more than 50,000 people displaced. Yet Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasn’t said a single word in public about it—let alone visit the conflict-ridden region.

The violence in Manipur is now the biggest internal security challenge of the new NDA government. With the deep divide and total separation between the two warring ethnic groups, the state desperately needs a healing touch in the form of a permanent political solution. However, the present dispensation is still living in denial mode - a clear manifestation of Modi’s indifference towards the humanitarian crisis.

The flames of violence have spread to peaceful districts like Jiribam. While extortion, kidnappings and killings have increased in the Imphal Valley and other areas, the BJP chief minister is still shamelessly clinging to his chair. There has been no concrete initiative for peace and normalcy. Considering the absence of mentioning the Manipur violence in Presidential speech, it is obvious that the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, would still be ignoring the state like he has been doing for the past more than one year.

Addressing the 18th Lok Sabha, the President has said that this election of 2024 has been an election of trust in policy, intention, dedication and decisions such as trust in a strong and decisive Government; trust in good governance, stability and continuity; trust in honesty and hard work; trust in security and prosperity; trust in Government guarantees and delivery, and trust in India’s resolve to be Viksit Bharat.

However, contrary to the Presidential speech, the present government at the centre fails Manipur, particularly the plight of the Kukis, on all fronts. It lacks policy and intention, decisive political will, honesty, good governance, etc., for solving the Manipur crisis. The Kukis have been demanding a political solution since the beginning of the state-sponsored ethnic cleansing pogrom but the Government remains apathetic to their legitimate demand. It is nothing but denial of the Kukis’ legitimate rights under the ambit of the Indian Constitution.

In today’s speech, the President also talked about the increased allocation for the development of the North-Eastern Region and her government’s focus on making the region a strategic gateway under its Act East Policy. “Connectivity of all kinds is being expanded in the North-East. Development works are being taken up in every field including education, health, tourism and employment.... My Government is continuously working for lasting peace in the North-East,” she said.

A stark contrast is seen between the President’s statement and the ground realities in Manipur. The Kukis’ territory, in particular, lacks all kinds of development, and connectivity of all kinds has been in a very poor state. There is no lifeline connecting the Kuki habitat areas and minimal development is seen in every village. During the rainy seasons, the Kukis’ hill areas are often cut off from the rest of the world due to pathetic conditions of road and transport communication. It is high time that the central government give special focus on holistic development of the Kuki hills.

The central government, in the last ten years, might solve many old disputes, and many important agreements might have been reached, but the Kukis’ legitimate political problem is still not on the table for serious discussion. It should be noted here that today’s world needs today’s solutions. Solving the Kukis’ problem will help build a better future, peace and prosperity in the region.

The President also mentioned the work of withdrawing AFSPA from the disturbed areas of the North-East for accelerating development in those areas. However, withdrawal of the same from the Imphal Valley has given rise to a serious threat of national security. Taking advantage of the absence of AFSPA in Imphal valley, the militia groups of Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun and the proscribed Meitei militant outfits have now taken over the power of the state government.

The armed groups of Meitei mobs now have the guts to freely challenge the Indian Army or CAPF by blocking their path and hurling derogatory remarks. The central security forces, with no power to act, often face security threats from the Meitei militant outfits, brandishing sophisticated weapons looted from Police armouries.

There is ample evidence suggesting that the Manipur government has been patronising the militia groups as well as the banned Meitei militant outfits such as UNLF, PLA, KYKL, PREPAK etc., for waging war against the Kukis. They often confront the central security forces to breach the buffer zones and attack Kuki-Zo village volunteers.

The revocation of AFSPA in the Valley thus led to a complete breakdown of law and order situation, rendering the task of central security forces ineffective in maintaining peace and normalcy in the region.

It is unfortunate that the mayhem in Manipur finds no mention in the presidential address to the Parliament. However, it is hopeful that the new NDA government under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will realise the necessity for solving the crisis sooner than later. The Centre must acknowledge the total separation between the two warring communities and subsequently formalise the political administration for the Kukis.