Manipur in limelight as Centre opts for wait and watch policy
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: July 15, 2023 -

THE European Parliament calling for protection of the religious minorities in India in the context of the ethnic violence in Manipur testifies that the victim card is being played with perfection by Kuki organisations taking full advantage of the Union government's wait and watch policy-as the state burns.

Ahead of the proposed move India’s foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra had raised objection that the Manipur issue is an internal matter but had no effect as the European Parliament on Thursday adopted the resolution calling on the Indian authorities to take “all necessary” measures to stop the violence in Manipur and protect religious minorities, especially Christians, thereby signifying that the violence has been successfully projected before the international fraternity as a clash between two religiously different communities.

With the right wing BjP helming the country’s affairs and incidents of atrocities committed against the minority communities in India surfacing occasionally, the European Parliament must have perceived the current violence as furtherance of the agenda of Hindu hegemony.

Accepted that churches were demolished in the valley districts of Manipur by the rampaging mobs in the first few days of the ethnic clash but hundreds of churches belonging to non-Kuki Christians still standing tall in Imphal areas alone underscores that the Meetei mobs weren’t against the entire believers of Christianity faith but unleashed fury on structures and properties associated with the Kuki community.

Regardless of the European Parliament seeking safeguard of religious rights of the minorities in India, it is commendable that the resolution found mention about destruction caused to several temples in the ethnic violence which has claimed many lives and rendered thousands homeless.

As the resolution came amid Prime minister Narendra Modi landing in France for an official visit, it is hoped that the Union government will now take swift and effective measures to end the mayhem before the global fraternity turns its lens on India and raises posers on the country’s secularism.

In case the centre continues to drag its feet in resolving the crisis it is obvious that continuation of the violence will draw, the global attention consequently diluting the central leaders’ consistent projections of India as a progressive nation.

While it would be infeasible to prevail upon the European Parliament to review its decision, it is high time that the centre acknowledge that the violence is no more an internal conflict but involves elements from across the border inimical to integrity of Manipur as well as adverse to the idea of India becoming an economic and military superpower.

If at all the centre isn’t impressed with chief minister N Biren’s insistence that Chin-Kuki mercenaries from Myanmar are abetting the situation then it could at-least accord importance to Governor Anusiya Uikey, who On Thursday revealed that the government is taking up measures to flush out elements posing threat to internal security so to control the situation and restore peace in the state.

The Governor acknowledging reports about possible involvement of foreign elements in the violence could also be construed as validation of Meetei civil societies’ demand that the state and central forces should take visible actions against the narco-terrorists.

As dismantling of bunkers alone will not help in safeguarding the bonafide citizens/ it is imperative that the infiltrators are flushed out without which prevalence of the restive situation will only tarnish India’s reputation as the World’s largest secular democratic country.