Sambit Patra's Visit: Is Centre Planning Something Big? Kuki-Zo Will Not Settle Anything Less Than Separate Administration

On Tuesday, Dr. Sambit Patra, the BJP National Spokesperson and Co-ordinator of the North East, had visited the strife-torn state of Manipur. As per reports, unlike his earlier visits, the latest two-day visit was in accordance with specific instructions from the Government of India to take a decisive step for quick restoration of peace in the region.

It was said that except for some top leaders of the Government and BJP Manipur Pradesh, no BJP Ministers, MLAs and the party’s office bearers had prior information of Sambit Patra’s visit. The Meiteis’ valley-based media houses are now abuzz with speculations of possible change of guard for restoration of peace.

Is the Centre planning something big to ensure early restoration of peace in Manipur? Why did BJP’s Sambit Patra make a sudden visit to Manipur? Was he assigned to submit a detailed report to the BJP top leadership on the current state of things in violence-hit Manipur?

Notably, the NDA 3.0 Government would be completing 100 days on September 15.
Responding to Media’s query, Manipur Minister Th. Basanta said that the BJP or the PM had never said that the Manipur crisis would be resolved within 100 days of Modi 3.0 but had stated that all efforts will be made to bring permanent peace at the earliest.

The visit of BJP central leadership to the conflict state is nothing new. Since the eruption of the state-sponsored ethnic cleansing pogrom against the minority Kuki-Zo on May 3 last year, multiple visits have been made by the BJP central leadership but nothing sort of peace came to light even after more than 16 months. Rather, every visit of theirs was marred by escalation of violent aggression from the Meitei radical armed groups against the Kukis, thus pouring fuel to the fire.

Soon after arriving at Imphal, Sambit Patra reportedly held a meeting with Chief Minister N Biren Singh and also one to one meetings at Hotel Imphal with the BJP Ministers and MLAs, barring Kuki MLAs/ Ministers. He also met BJP Manipur Pradesh President A. Sharda, Assembly Speaker Th. Satyabrata and a few intellectuals from the Meitei community.

Sambit Patra also visited Moreh, the border hill town of Kuki-dominated Tengnoupal district. Certain quarters have expressed strong suspicion that Sambit Patra might have met some Kuki Ministers and MLAs at Moreh.

Media reports stated that Sambit Patra dealt on whether replacing the Chief Minister could check the violence or whether the incumbent Chief Minister should be retained. Reshuffling of the Council of Ministers too reportedly figured at the meeting.

His visit was earlier scheduled to last four days during which he would also visit Churachandpur and Kangpokpi where he could meet Kuki Ministers and MLAs; but the visit was cut short suddenly at the instruction of the Centre. He is expected to present a detailed report to the Government of India about his visit to Manipur. Many political experts and analysts have opined that Sambit Patra’s two-day visit is highly significant unlike his previous visits.

It is important to note that the Kukis have been facing the brunt of Meitei atrocities for the last 16 months. The violence is orchestrated and pre-planned by N. Biren Singh (as per his incriminating audiotapes) in cohort with his private militia groups.

The position of the Kuki-Zo people is clear. Replacing the incumbent and incompetent chief minister is not the issue anymore. As the two warring communities are already totally separated physically, ethnically, geographically and demographically, there is no question of peaceful co-existence under one administrative unit. The Kukis will not settle for anything less than “Separate Administration” from the communal Meitei government for peace and normalcy to return.