Seeking help from Mizoram CM
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: August 05, 2024 -

WITH Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his right-hand man, Union home minister Amit Shah doing nothing precious other than paying lip service even though the violent conflict between the Meetei/Meitei and Kuki-Chin communities in Manipur has crossed 15 months with no sign of abatement, desperation on the part of chief minister N Biren Singh to find some sort of solution is becoming quite apparent.

And, like most people in a desperate situation, he seems to have committed a serious error of judgement in seeking help from where he shouldn't.

It is precisely for this reason that the World Meetei Council (WMC) has taken strong exception to N Biren seeking help from his Mizoram counterpart for resolving the crisis in Manipur and categorically asked him to step down to pave way for appointment of someone from among the ruling MLAs who can put an end to the persistent aggression of armed Kuki-Chin militants without 'selling-out' the interest of Meetei/Meitei community.

Apart from questioning some people who had criticised Outer MP Alfred K Arthur for his recent "Is it so difficult to replace one man and restore peace?" speech in the Parliament as the demand was interpreted to be taking side with the aggressors, the Council has made it clear that seeking help from Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma, who is seen as the father figure of Kuki-Zo people to mediate and resolve the crisis in Manipur, is akin to surrendering to the same group of people who are hostile towards Meeteis/Meiteis.

Coming as it is a day after the Council had reacted strongly to the remarks made by chief minister Biren in the Manipur Legislative Assembly wherein he indicated a much toned down stand on the crisis by asserting that the core issue behind the ongoing violence is the recommendation made by the High Court of Manipur regarding the demand of Meitei/ Meitei to be recognised as scheduled tribe (ST), one can safely conclude that CM Biren is no morein the good book of the Council.

To understand the anger of World Meetei Council (WMC), one needs to just recall how chief minister Biren had minced no words in giving advice to both his previous and present Mizoram counterparts on the reality of inter-state relations and administration of federal states in a democratic country like India and told them to stay away from meddling in the internal affairs of Manipur.

When Zoramthanga, the previous chief minister of Mizoram, who projected himself as "the guardian of Chin-Kuki-Zo tribes" did everything possible to capitalise on the ongoing conflict in Manipur even to the extent of openly challenging the Government of Manipur by taking part in a rally organised by members of civil society organisations in Aizawl in July last year, chief minister N Biren Singh had made his displeasure known by making it clear that his government would not succumb to any threat or pressure but will identify all the illegal immigrants and drive them out of Manipur.

Similarly, when the current Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma passed a comment, disapproving the security measures taken up by Manipur Police in Moreh way back in December, 2023, Biren had given a befitting response by saying, "It (Lalduhoma's comment) is somewhat beyond the Constitution because it is an internal matter of Manipur.

He does not know what exactly is happening in Moreh", which has become a hotbed of illegal activities perpetrated by illegal immigrants pouring in from across the Indo-Myanmar international border following bloody clashes between the rebel groups and Military Junta in the neighbouring country and cleansing of the Meetei/Meitei residents from the border town by armed Kuki-Chin militants in the ongoing conflict.

So, chief minister N Biren Singh seeking the help from his Mizoram counterpart for mediation in resolving the crisis in Manipur is bound to be scoffed at.

In doing so, N Biren also seems to have unwittingly given an opportunity to Lalduhoma, who is looking for ways and means of giving a shot in the arm for the flagging 'Zo unification' movement.