Instigating communal violence for narrow political gains is a crime

Seram Neken *

In June 2001, we had witnessed the biggest ever mass uprising against the faulty policy of the then Government of India. Lives lost, properties destroyed. But it was not communal in nature. There was not a single instance of targeting any community by any other.

Consequently, the three dangerous words “without territorial limit” were removed from the Ceasefire Agreement between NSCN(IM) and the Government of India. The uprising was purely in support of integrity of Manipur. The then Government too handled the situation without adding any communal colour.

This time, some people in the guise of politicians obviously instigated the communities to fight against each other by employing armed militants who are under Suspension of Operation (SoO). This is clearly evident in the recent statement issued by 10 Kuki MLAs demanding a separate administration for Kuki settled areas, which is followed by a representation to Union Home Minister to concede their demand.

In their efforts to raise the demand for separate administration, innumerable lives have been lost and properties destroyed. It was a pre-planned attempt of the Kuki MLAs in collusion with some CSOs and SoO militants to antagonise the Kuki people against the Meiteis, in order to secure narrow political gains.

Raising demand for a separate administration at this critical hour indicates that the 10 Kuki MLAs, who either belong to BJP or supporting the BJP Government, are instigators to the current imbroglio in Manipur.

Besides orchestrating uninterrupted inflow of foreign immigrants and illegal exploitation of forest land, they are supposedly behind the Poppy Cultivators & Drug Traders. Their anti-Meitei revolt in the form of rejecting ST demand by Meiteis is nothing but a strategic design to break the age-old integrity of the composite Manipur and establish their sway over forest land which otherwise is most valuable natural resource of the state.

Kuki armed militants under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) are being used as powerful weapon of these politicians to destroy the emotional bond between the indigenous Kukis and the Meiteis. For such an unconstitutional and communal act which has led to loss of precious human lives and properties, the 10 Kuki MLAs deserve punishment from the end of their respective political parties.

Being members of Legislature who openly acted against the unity and integrity of the nation, such law makers deserve expulsion from membership of the State Legislature and of their political party, for they have acted against what they swore.

Moreover, they have proved themselves as criminals by perpetrating communal violence among innocent common people. Why the Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly and the BJP Manipur don’t take befitting actions against such MLAs as per law ?

Two Cabinet ministers, who are supposed to hold collective responsibility in the governance, are among the 10 Kuki MLAs instigating violence and demanding Separate Administration within Manipur. The principle of collective responsibility of Cabinet in a parliamentary form of government has become a farce in Manipur. Why the Chief Minister of Manipur still retain them in the Cabinet ?

Meanwhile, the Governments at the Centre and the State cannot even ensure smooth flow of essentials on national highways. Obstructions and looting of goods carrying trucks in the hilly highways have been continuing. Everything seems to be only on lip service. Tangible and timely actions are not seen even as the imbroglio has lingered for over two weeks now.

This is democracy, any individual or any organisation may have the right to demand anything under the constitutional provisions. Anyone can put up any demand at the right fora. But, injecting communal venom for narrow political gains is against the spirit of the Constitution of India.

It is high time the Government and the BJP took befitting actions against erring Ministers and MLAs for breaking integrity of the nation and also for instigating communal violence which led to loss of lives and properties.

It is high time the Government of India instituted a high-level commission to enquire the lapses in executing ground rules of Suspension of Operation (SoO) and punish the guilty. We should not feel complacent in the so-called repeated assurances from the central leaders that the integrity of Manipur will remain intact. Its time to take action. Find out the guilty and punish them as per law.