EU Parliament Raises Concern About “Divisive Politics Promoting Hindu Majoritarianism’ In Manipur

The European Parliament has passed a strongly worded resolution on Manipur urging the Indian government to “put in place all necessary measures to promptly halt the ethnic and religious violence and to protect all religious minorities” in the state.

The EU Parliament, comprising 705 directly elected representatives from all member nations, noted “that intolerance towards minority communities has contributed to the current violence.” Adding further “that there have been concerns about politically motivated, divisive policies that promoted Hindu majoritarianism in the area.”

The resolution also refers to the increased distrust in the authorities because of the internet shit down that has “severely hindered reporting by the media, while security forces have been implicated in the recent killings.”

The Members of the European Parliament have called upon the Indian authorities to “allow independent investigations into the violence, to tackle impunity and to lift the internet ban.” It has urged all to stop making inflammatory statements, to re-establish trust and play an impartial role to mediate tensions.”

The Parliament has also demanded that human rights be integrated into all areas of the EU-India partnership including trade. And has urged all members to “raise human rights concerns notably on freeom of expression, religion and the shrinking space for civil scoeity, with the Indian side at the highest level.”

The EU Parliament resolution comes on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in France as the chief guest for Bastille Day. The unanimous view of the Parliament will put pressure on the French government and President Emmanuel Macron to raise the issue with PM Modi, and do so publicly. More so, as trade is high on the agenda and the resolution makes it clear that the MEP’s expect all member nations to integrate human rights into all aspects of the relationship.

The Manipur government has filed FIRs against independent fact finders, such a a team of women activists from the NFIW who visited the state recently and released a report of their findings. Hundreds of women have challenged this FIR, protesting against this “attack” on the women’s team.

The resolution passed by the EU Parliament today reads as follows:

Following recent violent clashes in the state of Manipur, India, which since May 2023 have left at least 120 people dead, 50 000 displaced and over 1 700 houses and 250 churches destroyed, Parliament strongly urges the Indian authorities to put in place all necessary measures to promptly halt the ethnic and religious violence and to protect all religious minorities.

The resolution notes that intolerance towards minority communities has contributed to the current violence and that there have been concerns about politically motivated, divisive policies that promote Hindu majoritarianism in the area. The Manipur state government has also shut down internet connections and severely hindered reporting by the media, while security forces have been implicated in the recent killings, something that has further increased distrust in the authorities.

MEPs call on the Indian authorities to allow independent investigations to look into the violence, to tackle impunity and to lift the internet ban. They also urge all conflicting sides to cease making inflammatory statements, re-establish trust and play an impartial role to mediate the tensions.

Parliament reiterates its call for human rights to be integrated into all areas of the EU-India partnership, including in trade. MEPs also advocate for the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue to be reinforced and encourage the EU and its member states to systematically and publicly raise human rights concerns, notably on freedom of expression, religion and the shrinking space for civil society, with the Indian side at the highest level.