The Bigness in Smallness: Biren's Miscalculation on Arambai Tenggol's Influence Costs BJP Heavily in Manipur

The miscalculation on the influence and power of ARAMBAI TENGGOL by BJP and Biren cost BJP HEAVILY in the 2024 general election both in the outer and inner Manipur constituency. Arambai Tenggol whom they consider could be “THE KINGMAKER” like other insurgent groups of North East failed miserably for them. As the BJP TALLY shifts from MAJORITY in 2019 to MERCY in 2024, they had to pay a HEAVIER PRICE than they should have, had the MODI MAGIC OF 2019 been as effective. The repeated attempt to butter up Arambai Tenggol by fulfilling their demands was seen by the KUKIS as them being an ANTI-KUKI party, the attempt by Arambai Tenggol to capture the election using guns was seen by the Meiteis as an attack on their democratic rights.

In the aftermath of the NYAY BHARAT JODO YATRA 2.0 flag-off from Manipur, and a few days before the Home Minister was set to visit the state in January this year, the ARAMBAI TENGGOL captured the constitutional machinery at Kangla fort, obligating the ELECTED MLAs and MPs belonging to the Meitei community to fulfil their demands which are all discriminatory towards and inimical to the rights and dignity of KUKIS. The close nexus between the government in the state was by then a well established fact for the citizens residing in the political  jurisdiction  of  Manipur as they are often the “LAAPATAS GOVERNMENT” as far as crimes and atrocities committed by ARAMBAI TENGGOL is concerned. So the military kidnapping of constitutional functionaries to force their demands upon comes as no surprises for the Kukis.

What surprises the people of INDIA in general and the KUKIS in particular was the stance taken by the central government towards the illegal and anti-national activities of ARAMBAI TENGGOL. The central government rather than condemning the act and taking strong actions against the outfit that attacked the very soul of India’s democracy and its constitution, negotiated with them and even fulfilled some of their demands. History repeats itself for the KUKIs. Once, a political map drawn without their consultation made them citizens of different countries, now they are separated in true sense by fencing the border. They are so near but made so far. As tribal, their ties are still so close, thus “THE VISITATION” is a symbol of their love, care and a means through which they stay connected and maintain their ties. The animosity of the communal terrorist outfit cost the tribal rights of the KUKIS.

The buck to appease and fulfil the demands of the terrorists at KANGLA FORTE does not stop there. The Kukis’ lone political dialogue platform with the central government SoO, which has been an eyesore for the Arambai Tenggol, the Meitei public and its government, was and is being held back. As the demographic tally of Meitei made them “THE KINGMAKER” in both the LOK SABHA constituency of Manipur, the grievances, suffering and injustice inflicted upon KUKIS by the barbaric and inhumane cruelty of the Arambai Tenggol is thrown out the window to fulfill yet another demand put forth by the Arambai Tenggol. The Home Minister of the country, during his campaign for inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, assured the Meiteis that Manipur integrity will not be broken, despite the fact that KUKis repeated request and consistent demands since the beginning of the ethnic violence had been “SEPERATE POLITICAL ADMINISTRATION” OUTSIDE MANIPUR WITHIN INDIA.

While the demands of Arambai tenggol were met one after another, the government expects the Kukis to be WELL-BEHAVED VICTIMS. The Kukis are granted only “THE RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENCE”. The Kukis thus boycotted the contesting of the election to draw the attention of the government that they are not happy with the STEP -MOTHERLY TREATMENT. However, they were always seen as zoned and ignored completely by the government. The NEGLECT AND COMPLETE IGNORANCE of the KUKIS is what made the BJP realise the BIGNESS OF SMALLNESS. They neglected the KUKI VOTE, when the candidate voted by the Kukis overwhelmingly won the outer Lok Sabha election.

Initially one could understand why the ARAMBAI TENGGOL was so favoured . However the reports of multiple gun firing incidents in various polling stations which were necessarily followed by booth capture, finally connected the dots. Voters present in those polling stations say those armes miscreants belonged to the Arambai Tenggol, which as always was denied by the terrorist outfit.

Had BJP in general and MO-SHA In particular, foreseen the future of what the people’s mandate today will be, they would not have neglected the cries and suffering of the Kuki tribes in Manipur. ALAS, like rivers that never go back, their decision then sealed their fate against their favour. It was too late when they realised the bigness of their small vote tally. Unlike the country’s PM Shri Narendra Modi, the biggest opposition leader in India, Mr. RAHUL GANDHI, visited the burning and crying state of INDIA not once but twice, despite the little to no power he had, to redress their grievances and suffering. He came and listened to their story and wiped their tears. He came to embrace them when they felt foreign in their own country and remind them “HE IS THERE FOR THEM” when they had lost all hope as a result of the step-motherly attitude towards their suffering, injustice and grievances by the central government. The votes secured by the candidate of his party is telling of people paying him back with the same amount of LOVE he gave to people from his SHOP OF LOVE in BIREN’S HATE BAZAR.

Manipur’s election has thus taught the BJP two important lessons; NEVER TO UNDERMINE THE BIGNESS OF THE MINORITIES and NEVER TO ATTACK THE DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS OF THOSE THAT HAVE TASTED ITS SWEETNESS.