Meitei Transport Officials Attempts to Destroy Smart Card Belonging to Kukis Justified Hatried and Prejudice Divide in Manipur

Unity is doomed where hatred and prejudice are the dominant force, for freedom from oppression is the birthright of all men as the seed of hatred and prejudice bears separation as its only fruits.

Since the 3rd of May, there have been unofficial separation and alienation of the Kukis by the Meiteis from the state of Manipur. Government departments and employees are no exception, they are parts and parcels of the Meitei mobs but in the administration, holding authority to decide one’s fate, their oppression is no less lethal than mobs who physically assault, murder, gang rape, terrorize and burned Kukis in their homes and streets. Neutrality and non-partisan ethics have been Murdered in their work and offices since the 3rd of May.

Unlike Meitei employees whose patriotism for their community comes first and acted as agents of the communal force and oppression, commitment to public interest and professionalism - working with the highest degree of excellence, justness and sincerity, nationalism and patriotism, and commitment to democracy are Norms of Conduct of Public Officials and Employee. Since the head of government, the Chief Minister himself is no exception but rather the figurehead, whom shall they fear and what shall stop

them from using their offices for the vested interest of their community in their genocidal pogrom of ethnic cleansing and oppression of the Kukis.

The blockade of NH-2 led to the intervention of the Central Government, but the blockade of roads from Imphal to the Kuki areas neither bat an eye nor raised concerns as if basic necessities like medicine, medical equipment, fuel, food, clothing etc are non-essential for the Kukis. There might be an option for its procurement but for a community that cries for the protection of the integrity of Manipur, their actions do not align with their demand. The intention is clear, Meiteis want to drive any and all Kuki populace away from their ancestral land and seize it for themselves.

It is rather funny how the system works in Manipur these days. Let’s talk about a few instances to understand the working of the Manipur government. The majority of students from the Kuki-zo community at Rayburn College are deliberately made to fail their examination with many of them given zero marks even in subjects with practical, where practical marks are given by the college. Public outcry however changed the result with some lucky ones passing but the unlucky ones still failed. In another incident at Moreh, there is CCTV evidence of school arson by Meitei police personnel, the incident was later investigated and given a clean chit unsurprisingly, by Meitei police personnel themselves.

Those are only a few instances of how public employees made a joke out of the law of the land and their unethical conduct, listing them all would take more than tens of volumes of books. Encouraged by their community members who got charge-free despite the open oppression against the Kukis and violation of laws and ethical conduct a government employee must have, a woman staff from the Transport Office in Imphal can be seen stepping her heels on vehicle registration certificates and smart cards belonging to the Kukis, she called names against the Kukis of being dogs, cats and what not, despite it being against the laws underlined in Atrocities of ST act and untouchability being abolished under Article 17 of Indian constitution, she dared to commit the offence knowing very well that she will not be held accountable, like a hundred others before her.

Let us not go by history, as there can be different versions from both parties that will confuse the readers even more. Let us talk about people residing in the territory of Manipur post-independent India. Kukis in Manipur has always been part and parcel of India since independence, we have actively participated in the democratic processes of India viz; exercising our universal adult franchise. We have been legally recognised as Indians since independence and by the non-amended Citizenship of India Act of 1951 itself. The question then arise; How are we categorised as illegal immigrants now? How can they certify our citizenship? Or is Manipur an independent country since 2023 and we have to subscribe for citizenship under their law and constitution? When did India gave Manipur to the Meiteis alone? If not, then why are their accusations taken seriously when there is enough valid proof of us being Indians in various government records since independence? Let alone the mobs, Arambai Tenggol and other Meitei militant outfits, why are we still entrusted under a government that cannot hold its employees accountable for violating the law?

If the Constitution of India and laws made by the Parliament are truly the Law of the Land, the Central Government must take serious note of the minority Kuki persecution in Manipur and redress their grievances and injustice by separating them from their oppressor who already alienated the Kukis, even in the development funds and departments, our patriotism and love for India should not be repaid back with another injustice on their part by letting the Meiteis to dictate over us, as a dictator rules over his country.