The unequal fight lingers on

AD Singh *

‘What is on your mind…..’ that is what confronts you as you open the Facebook page.

This is exactly what a million Meiteis of Manipur want to ask the very honourable PM and HM of India. Yes, what is on their minds on the unprovoked violence by the Kuki people on the docile Meiteis on the 3rd May 2023 ? The HM at one time said it was because of the order of the High Court of Manipur recommending to the Govt. to reply to a decade old letter of the Union Govt on granting ST status to the Meiteis.

For God’s sake, shall he or his Government in Manipur, tell us why the Kuki armed militants were allowed to freely destroy properties and nipped lives of the Meiteis living in the districts of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Chandel, areas dominated by them at the same time on a legal issue ? What followed in the valley was only a panic mob reaction which had been of course as ferocious and merciless as the perpetrators.

This is a very unfortunate and painful episode in the history of Manipur. The Kukis being non indigenous people of the State, had underestimated the Meiteis whose passionate love of Manipur is legendary.

Thus the proverbial first match stick was lit by the Kuki militants, NOT by the Meiteis as the former like the world to believe. The Government says spreading lies or fake news is punishable, but it seems, it is being applied only selectively at its discretion.

The netas and babus at the Centre who are dependent on the reports of its intelligence agencies only, are not moved by the heart rendering cry of the Meiteis,, for the eyes cannot see what the mind does not want to see. As regards the security forces they are obsessed with counter insurgency operation only against the valley militants, most of whom had been neutralised but can’t be written them off completely as yet.

Hence, it seems the Kuki militants mainly belonging to the ZRA and KNA which had been quite helpful, can’t be displeased. It is now clear that the aggression by the Kuki militants who are armed to the teeth could had been stopped in the first week or so had the State and Central Governments put their heads and acts together and tried to understand the situation properly. Instead functionaries of both the Governments were in deep confusion not knowing what hit them.

The Central Government immediately armed itself with powers under the Art 355 of the Constitution but did not seriously exercise the power beyond sending planeloads of army and paramilitary forces without ever giving specific directions or orders. The forces found themselves juxtaposed in an area where they cannot operate freely because of absence of protective provisions of the AFSPA.

Interestingly and not surprisingly too, they pleaded inability to operate in the hills either as there is an arrangement of Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Kuki militants, even though they know that the militants have violated the ground rules.

It is inconceivable that the army top brass and the top Home Ministry officials, leaving aside the HM , did not bother to accurately study the situation and take a correct decision rather than what they did and exposed the state of confusion in decision making at the top of administration. As regards the State Government the less said the better. Its own police intelligence officers betrayed the CM or he is incapable of assimilation of reports.

As it turned out now the writing on the wall was everywhere to be seen. There are conclusive proofs from seized documents in public domain about nefarious plan of a separate State for them out of Manipur, not satisfied with Mizoram.

The Kuki military operation however deserves admiration and commendation for its meticulous planning and precision brutal execution of arsons and murderous attack on an unsuspecting population. And they claim most dishonestly and shamelessly the violence was started by the valley dwellers -the Meiteis.

The fight is unequal in more than one sense. It is a fight between an army well trained and armed with modern war weapons, and a highly professional propaganda network of disinformation, censorship and other unethical activities.

The widespread protests by the valley people mainly by the women folks are deep agonising expression of trust deficit between the Central forces and them. One should not just wave them off as hooligans or obstructionists. They come out because the forces who are meant to protect their lives and properties are not doing their job properly or are doing so brazenly in a partisan manner.

This has given an impression that the forces had been sent only to protect the invaders comprising of outside forces who are conspiring to destroy the State of Manipur, a past kingdom of glory passionately guarded by their ancestors. They have seen how the other side are allowed unhindered firing and killing at their pleasure in the presence of the security forces.

They have many documented episodes of lopsided application of law or rules. They are suspicious of the forces who have the arrogance to block the way of the State security forces whom they are supposed to assist. Such high handedness of local commanders do not inspire confidence in the public, in the present volatile situation of Manipur.

A question which is on the lip of every Meitei is who is ruling the State. The CM on record, quoted the HM assuring him of taking care of hills when he is entrusted with controlling the valley people. Can anything be like this under the Constitution ? Is the State bifurcated and partly ruled by the Centre just like what the British did to Manipur ? Has it happened anywhere ?

This shows the state of confusion and failure to comprehend the situation with the seriousness which it demands. The local MLAs who met the HM returned fully satisfied with his advice to ‘control’ the women folks the Meira Paibees so that the forces can move freely and control the situation. Don’t know how and what respond, if all they did. Same old mindset. People now know where their heart is.

There are also suggestions to the Meiteis, but never heard of having said the same to the Kukis whose demand is bifurcation of administration of the small State and whose slogan is ‘ solution first ……..’ to talk to each other and bring normalcy, as if one party can grant the demand of the other ,without realising the situation. Now the Kuki invaders have shown their real intention and demand which is for separate administration of the Kuki.

The Meiteis have belatedly awoken and hit back, retorting in the strongest term that migrant invaders can have no legitimate claim on the land. Is it not therefore, the duty of the State which means both the Governments at the Centre and local, to do so? Why they are trying to abdicate their duty ? It is of great interest and satisfaction that the learned Foreign Minister had understood the primary cause of the situation.

It has never been a majority community of Meitei attacking a helpless people of minority, nor a Hindu vs Christian nor non tribals vs tribals as the Kukui tried to mislead the world. It is all about grasping land from benevolent Meitei.

It is a paradoxical situation where the mighty invaders are being supported by all the forces which include the National media and babus leaving the MEITEI women and village volunteers to defend themselves. Now they want to conquer it and drive the indigenous Meiteis out, not realising that the Meiteis are passionate defenders of their motherland.

It is very intriguing and inconceivable the Governments have fallen so easily to the trap by arranging population transfer of the two communities in a huff thereby admitting its inability to give protection of lives and properties of its citizens. Has it occurred anywhere in recent past in the country ? In the process it has given wittingly or unwittingly credence to the war mongers a hand to claim finality of separation.

If 40000 men of Indian army and others Central forces cannot subdue a few hundred of armed militants whatever their source of power, well it does not speak well of the administration. The Meiteis are on the streets asking for peace and return of normalcy and not for any demand unlike the other party.

For the same reason the mothers, the legendary Meira Paibees are also out on the streets including night vigil, facing abuses and physical assaults from over enthusiastic personnel of the forces, for they are now convinced that unless they protect themselves, no body will.

If a Manipuri woman slip up her loin cloth to the chest-the Phanek and tie a waist band, it must be understood that she is prepared for the worst and ready to sacrifice her life. It is not for fun or joke. Learn to respect them.

The Governments of the day cannot shirk its obligation to its citizen to protect their lives and properties as enshrined in the Constitution. The guns from the hills should be silenced first. Any further delay will only complicate the situation with far reaching consequences.

The State has dithered long enough and it must admit this; and make course correction, now that the intention of the invaders are not honouable and not in the interest the people of Manipur and their demands are unacceptable. This State belongs to the indigenous people. The State should not surrender to the terrorists. The world knows the steadfast stand of India against terrorism and drug trafficking.

Let it not be an empty slogan in international fora.