Mr. Arnab Goswami, We are Tribals But We are not Maoists

In his reply to the ITLF, Mr Arnab Goswami says he rejects ITLF’s reply on the conflict of being an ethnic conflict and equated the Kukis’ self-defence to protect themselves from being annihilated and persecuted by majority community with the Maoist movement. From a man calling the KSO a misinformed organisation, he too is misinformed. Or is he unhappy that we were not perfect victims who took the ethnic-cleansing lying down but rather victims that stood up and fought back for our lives and our existence??

His equation is not acceptable. For one, Kukis do not believe in the ideology of Marx, Lenin or Mao unlike the Maoists. The only ideology the Kukis believe in is the ideology enshrined in the constitution and the constitution itself. Kukis are proud Indians and we do not wage war against India nor do we challenge the sovereignty of India. As someone hailing from the Northeast, he must be aware of who demands the secession from India instead. He owes the Kuki community an apology for questioning their patriotism and equating them with one of the items in his toolkit - the Maoists - to demean rightful protestors as Maoists or Naxalites. In fact Kukis might be more patriotic than Mr. Arnab Goswami himself. After all, if the leaked Whatsapp text is indeed authentic, we are mourning over the death of our jawans in Pulwama, not celebrating their deaths. And if demanding a state and UT is a national security threat, then why do we have Article 3 of the Indian constitution?

And yes, before he comes back at the Kukis on the strategy adopted for the demands, we have been compelled to take up arms for self-defence. Aren’t village defence guards in J&K given arms and training for their self-defence against terrorists? If a militant organisation like Arambai Tenggol is posing a threat to our security and safety with the state government’s support and central government’s inaction against them, taking up arms is the only option we are left with. So my question is - is self-defence a crime? He must also remember that despite the injustices inflicted upon them, the Kukis’ patriotism towards India has never faltered.

And how is ITLF wrong in calling this an ethnic conflict when we are selectively targeted based on our ethnicity and the culprits belong to another particular community? If that is not an ethnic conflict then what shall it be called, Mr Goswami? A lovers’ spat?

His prejudice against the Kukis is so visible that he couldn’t even comprehend what was written on the Press Release.  The ITLF says that Kukis are not sponsored by any foreign element and if today Kukis defend, they defend themselves in their own capacity and capabilities. However Mr. Goswami has to be right even when he is wrong. The ITLF’s reply on the procurement of drones by various Meitei activists is proof he gave to prove his point. Thus, if he so wanted foreign elements in the conflict,, his evidence is telling that it is the Meiteis and not the Kukis who have links with foreign countries.

The carving of “Kukiland” on an alleged bomb which the Meiteis say was fired by the Kukis is your evidence, Mr Goswami? Seriously? Are Meiteis so illiterate that they cannot carve the word by themselves? The other evidence that he provided on his channel during his debate and during his clarification got busted one after the other. Thus, Mr. Goswami owes another apology to the Kukis again.

Where were you when constitutional authorities were compromised and coup’ed at Kangla Fort by the Arambai Tenggol? Where were you when the AT imposed their terms on elected representatives terms and abused elected representatives who did not exactly tow the line at the said meeting? Where were you when our boys were mutilated? Where were you when we were murdered? Where were you when bombs were dropped against us? Where were you when we lived with fear? Who acted like a Maoist and captured the government machinery? Who acted like a Maoist and attacked our paramilitary forces? Who’s a threat to national security - the person who executed an ethnic cleansing pogrom and his puppets or people who fight for their very lives and existence? And most importantly, why are you silent on the leaked audio-tape of the Mastermind?

It’s time Mr. Goswami and his Media Trial is put to a halt. Because unless it is done, it is the innocent victims who get inflicted and it is Indians who get inflicted. Who is he to have the power of the Judiciary? Who gave him the responsibility to take up the role? His right to freedom of expression as a journalist does not include the freedom to feed fake news or hate.