Manipur - No End In Sight

Clearly Manipur and the deaths and destruction is not on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mind as his ‘mann ki baat’ did not reflect the violence that has overtaken India’s north east state. Those hoping that he would break his long silence on the issue were disappointed and angry, smashing small radios on the streets of Manipur in protest. An all party delegation waiting to meet the Prime Minister for a week now has not got an audience, even though homes of BJP legislators have been gutted in incidents of arson. The presence of the security forces has been unable to contain the clashes as Meitis and Kukis attack each other with deadly intent. Homes have been gutted, families destroyed, as over a hundred (maybe more) have died, hundreds injured and thousands (over 60000) fled to other states. Rendered homeless. And not a word from the Prime Minister as he readies to leave for his state visit to Washington.

The internet services have been stopped to ostensibly prevent the news from going out. As a result rumours that are feeding the violence have spread far and wide, and while these seemed to be part of a deliberate design at the onset these have now acquired a momentum of their own. Mobs are formed on the basis of rumours, and the deathly cycle of violence shows no sign of abating.

Rivalries between communities in Manipur and the neighbouring north east states have a long history. The states are badly developed, highly neglected, and hence tend to rely heavily on governments at the centre. After messing around with the communities — one of the worst violence was seen in 1983 in Assam under a Congress government– political parties that come to power at the centre tend to leave the northeast region alone. In that there has been a visible reluctance to stoke the fires as it were, allowing a modicum of peace even though it cannot be described as tranquility. Militant groups have lost power, age has mellowed many known leaders as in Nagaland, and the region has managed to retain some level of harmony. Assam being an exception as the communal fires have been lit frequently over the past ten years, with sharp polarisation on the ground. A sequel to the 1980’s where the differences between local Assamese and so called immigrants were honed.

It is no secret that the current government in Manipur has tried to sharpen the traditional differences between the hill tribes (Nagas and Kukis) and those living in the plains (Meitis). This was an attempt by the BJP to play with fire as it were, and the flames are now beyond control. The differences that the communities had learnt to live with have now erupted, with the rumour mill continuing to provide the fuel. The Kukis - largely Christians– feel they have been pushed to the periphery and the Meitis - largely Hindus- feel they have not been given their rights. The truth is that the governments in power - today and yesterday- have failed to reconcile differences through non partisan administration and the government today has actually helped widen the gap to polarise and isolate the communities.

It is tragic when those in power seek to embrace one community, and charge the other of being ‘outsiders’ and ‘militants.’ This creates fissures that are impossible to bridge, as such politics pits citizen against citizen with deadly repercussions as seen in Manipur. No democracy can be strengthened when parts of the country are on fire; no democracy can exist when those in power do not govern but manipulate the people and allow fires to rage. Washington wages wars against the people of other countries in what is recognised as brutal foreign policy but New Delhi has gone a step further, and is waging war against its own people. This has to stop.