The Thick-Skinned Hippopotamus of Manipur

The hippopotamus has a skin so thick that they are almost bulletproof to small-calibre bullets. They can take pain pretty well and will keep coming at you even after you shoot them. Just like the hippo, N. Biren too has a thick skin. Add to the woe, he is arrogant, stubborn, power hungry and most importantly, he can’t see his own flaws. In his recent speech at the BJP’s headquarters in Imphal, the capital of the neighbouring state of Manipur, he justified his actions. It appears he still thinks that he is right. He is unable to realise that it is his biased actions towards the Kukis which have caused this conflict.

Illegal Immigrants the cause of violence? – Ideocracy at its peak

The Chief Agent of Violence in his speech lamented, “Was it a serious error to launch a campaign to identify illegal immigrants who otherwise would have swallowed the indigenous people of the state?” Why is N. Biren Singh insisting and hinting in a covert manner that the Kuki-Meitei conflict is caused by illegal immigrants? According to the IGP’s report, 2,480 illegal immigrants (refugees) from Myanmar were detected of which 1,147 were in Tengnoupal, 1,175 in Chandel, 154 in Churachandpur, 4 in Kamjong and none in Pherzawl district. This information has also been reported by the Times of India. The idea that Manipur, with a population of 28.55 lakhs in the 2011 census and an estimated 32.31 lakhs in 2023, could be outnumbered by a mere 2000 plus illegal immigrants is absurd. Where did N. Biren Singh get this absurd justification? This is an idiotic and inane argument, a daft rationale. Erstwhile in Mizoram, there are 50,000 plus refugees not from Myanmar alone but from Bangladesh also as well. So according to N. Biren Singh, some 2000 plus illegal immigrants are the root cause of the conflict in Manipur. If that is to be the raison d’etre then the 50,000 plus refugees in Mizoram would have created mayhem and havoc and dismantled the state. Mizoram would be hell on earth, but it has not happened. Mizoram is by far the most peaceful state in India let alone in the entire Northeast Region. It recently concluded its state elections without any problem. This begs the question, if Mizoram can handle a large influx of refugees without halting the day-to-day governance including law-and-order, why is it that the Meitei Manipur Government is unable to handle just a mere thousand? It is worth pointing out that there is a sizeable Meitei population in Myanmar where they are known as Kathe. The narrative that illegal immigrants belong only from the Kuki community is wrong. Why is the Meitei government hinting that Kukis are the only illegal immigrants? There are other groups as well!

The real Narco-Terrorists – Meiteis not Kukis

He also said, “Was it a fault to start a war on drugs to save the youth? Was it also a fault to have stopped the massive deforestation which destroyed the natural environment and led to emergence of new villages and widespread poppy cultivation?”

The entire community including Kuki CSOs, churches, Kuki village chiefs and even the KNO/UPF supported N. Biren’s War on Drugs. What he failed to mention is that it was his biasness towards branding the Kukis as the main drug peddlers and allowing anti-Indian/communal CSOs like COCOMI and the Haomee Federation to demonise the Kukis as narco-terrorists. This created an atmosphere of hostility towards the Kukis amongst the gullible Meitei society. The true narco-terrorists are based in Imphal, the ones who have connections with Biren and his associates. Ex-Manipur Top Cop, Ms. Thounaojam Brinda said in an interview with Newslaundry, “I am aware of CM Biren Singh’s involvement with drugs and drug mafia. The crisis is a result of the deep underlying nexus of narco-mafia with politics.” Brinda has since been harassed and made to apologise forcefully by the Arambai Tenggol and other radicalised Meitei groups.

The rhetoric of environment protection – a narrative to scapegoat the Kukis

Biren talked about deforestation and protection of the environment without any proper basis. N. Biren Singh, prior to 3rd May, had made a big fuss on the Reserved Forest issue; he rallied the government and the Meitei youths to demonise and scapegoat the Kukis as the reason behind environmental degradation. He launched several village evictions drives in Kuki dominated areas. However, according to GGI (Good Governance Index 2020-21, which is an assessment of the state of governance of Indian States published by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, see figure), Mizoram scored an abysmal 0.110 putting the state in last place in conservation of forests and the environment while Manipur scored 0.362, earning the state the first position overall, faring the best amongst all Northeast and Hill states. It is clear from this data that the N. Biren Singh government’s drive to protect/conserve the forests and natural environment was a ruse to evict the Kukis from their ancestral lands. This unscrupulous act caused great mistrust and deep grudge amongst the Kuki community.

Selective narrative of increase in Kuki villages – demonisation of the Kukis.

On the setting up of new villages, Biren is unaware or wilfully chooses to ignore the genocide committed by the NSCN(IM) when they tried to forcefully create southern Nagalim (a challenge to India’s sovereignty) by forcefully driving out the Kukis from their ancestral lands in districts like Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati. There was large scale movement of Kukis from these districts to present day Kangpokpi, Chandel, Tengnoupal, Lamka and Pherzawl districts. Biren’s insistence in selective narrative will not solve the current crisis which is plaguing Manipur and Kuki ancestral land.

Sorry, the blame is on you, Biren!

The Kukis have never blamed the BJP and its high command for the Kuki-Meitei conflict. We have time and again reiterated that N. Biren Singh, Leisemba Sanajaoba, Manipur Police Commando, the Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun are the main instigators and culprits of the violence. We suggest that Biren Singh read the press statements released by the Kuki Inpi, ITLF, KSO and other Kuki CSOs where we blame him and not the BJP for the Kuki-Meitei conflict.
We suggest that Biren Singh listen to the pop hit song by Akon, “Sorry, Blame it on me” especially these lines;

“I understand that there’s some problems,
And I’m not too blind to know…
…If I can’t apologize for being wrong,
Then it’s just a shame on me.
I’ll be the reason for your pain,
And you can put the blame on me.”

In conclusion, the Manipur Meitei government could have handled this crisis better. So we ask Biren, was parading our mothers and sisters naked and raping them necessary? Why did your police not intervene when the Meitei mobs commit this heinous act? Was it our fault that state sponsored Meitei terrorist groups such as the Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun burnt our villages and houses; and hunted and butchered us like wild animals? Why were you silent on the 3rd and 4th of May? Why was the DGP of Manipur, a Kuki, made powerless during the initial days? The cold harsh truth is that N. Biren Singh gave a free hand to his minions to loot, kill, rape and assault the Kukis. The Meiteis have driven us out of Manipur successfully. We are now in our ancestral land. Separation is complete. The Kukis are owed a homeland. Long live Kuki ancestral land! Long live India!