Unity of majority Meetei community under scanner
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: October 25, 2022 -

THOUGH it’s just wishful thinking that leaders of ethnic-centric organisations would lend ears and accord importance to chief minister N Biren’s observation that no community should hold grudge against another community over taking up certain steps to protect themselves since it is a matter of survival and sustenance, the fact is ethnic tension and enmity continues to simmer in Manipur.

Overtly, there seems to be notable improvement in relationship among the indigenous communities settling in the state at the juncture but one can’t ignore the ground reality that whenever sensitive issues crop up the ugly side of harbouring inimical feeling among the ethnic communities also come to the fore.

Amid such uneasy calm prevailing in the society, it is hard to comprehend that non-Meetei groups of people would accept that the majority community is the binding force for the different indigenous communities of the state, as stated by chief minister N Biren at the Mera Meepham, the annual convention of Umanglai Kanba Lup (UKAL) held on Sunday.

Moreover, CM Biren’s clarion call to the Meetei people to iron out differences and work/act unitedly to uphold interest and emotional integrity of Manipur should be enough to prod the conscience of leaders of valley-based civil societies, all of which were formed with the objective of working for the betterment of the society but are bereft of harmony when it comes to pursuing issues of importance to the Meeteis.

Such internal discord is one of the reasons why the Meetei people are currently facing cultural and identity crisis and desperately in need of constitutional safeguard.

Apart from disunity, different organisations advocating appeasement ideology and numbly tolerating disparaging remarks against the Meeteis are some other factors for the non-Meetei communities to consistently put the blame on the majority community for underdevelopment and shortage of basic infrastructure in the hill areas.

There had been various incidents of sentiments of the Meeteis being taken for granted and objections randomly raised whenever the majority community seeks attention of the government authorities to address their plight.

It’s on record that there has been a trend of bashing the majority community for almost every misfortunate that befalls on the other indigenes and settlers, regardless of numerous acts and activities of benevolence done by Meetei civil societies to remind all concerned that Manipur has been home to different ethnic communities since time immemorial.

Thus, whether or not the chief minister’s remarks underscoring importance of Meetei people in bringing emotional integrity is acceptable to others, it is imperative that Meetei civil societies reach out to one another whenever issues of concern and interest to the majority community arise, failing which elements inimical to integrity of the state and its people will try to drive wedge to create division in the multi-ethnic society.

As there had been instances of instigation by some individuals with vested ethnic or political interests to blow sensitive issues out of proportion, Meetei organisations shall have to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining tranquillity and prevent escalation of tense situation, if any, instead of gloating over their respective ability to enforce shutdowns after irreparable damages have already been done.