Violence During Christmas: A Direct Attack on Faith, Culture, and Identity Amidst State Failure

What values does the right to freedom of religion as entitled by the constitution in the form of Fundamental Rights when you had to run and fight for your life amidst the religious festival celebration in your own home and villages due to failure of state agencies and an attacks from heavily armed militants?

Christmas is more than a religious festival for the Kukis, the festive season has become a part and parcel of Kukis culture, and it serves as an occasion for family reunion, community get together and the only resting period for the farmers who toiled the lands all the year round in all weather conditions to feed themselves and their families.

Thus, the continual attacks by VBIGs during the festive season is an attack both on their beliefs and their identity in itself. Through their actions they sent the message that anything and everything what Kukis holds dear will have no place in the state dominated by the Meiteis. As opposed to the widely belief on the turmoil in Manipur as a conflict between two ethnic communities, VBIGs left on multiple occasions the religious animosity they had towards the Christian community in the state.

The government in power once again proved by its actions that they won’t give peace and negotiation a chance, Brute force and attack is their only option available for the Kukis in their administration. The continual disrespect and disregard for Kukis sentiments in their decisions and policies is a testament to the above allegation. Respect and representation of their sentiments would have been the path they choose had they opted for Negotiations and talks.

An attack of this scale during this festive season despite knowing the importance it holds to the Kukis cannot happen without the state government knowledge. A denial would only meant their incompetence to hold the power they in the state. Thus, either Biren should acknowledge his complicity or his incompetence and dissolve his government altogether.

The failure to content VBIGs despite the humongous presence of paramilitary forces is indeed a shame they must retrospect upon, one can take it as an proof for the fact that the Imposition of AFSPA in the valley district is proven to be effective on paper. If Biren got the central government backing after his failure this time, will it be wrong to assume they are complicit as well?