Constitutional means unlikely to end Manipur crisis
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: March 25, 2025 -

REGARDLESS of the Supreme Court Judge, justice BR Gavai stressing that all problems can be solved through constitutional means and through the dialogue process, finding solution to the Manipur crisis at this juncture seems unrealistic if one takes into account that the Kuki civil organisations have hardened their stand not to hold talks unless their demand for separate administration or union territory with legislature is honoured, justice Gavai, who led a team of five Supreme Court judges on a two-day visit to Manipur since Saturday, also said that the delegation has learnt that everyone in the ethnic strife-torn state wants restoration of peace and that nobody is interested in continuing the present situation, expressing firm belief that 'everything can be solved through constitutional means'.

However, non-adherence to constitutional provision is the root cause for the violence that broke out on May 3, 2023 as the so-called solidarity march organised by the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) on the same day was in protest against the directive of the High Court of Manipur to the state government to consider the demand for granting scheduled tribe status to the Meetei/ Meitei community.

Had the ATSUM esteemed the Constitution of India then the natural course of action to oppose the ST demand would be either approaching the High Court or a higher court of law to stay the decree, instead of the participants of the solidarity march in Churachandpur district, accompanied by automatic weapon wielding persons, taking law into their own hands and attacking the Meetei villagers in Torbung area.

As the attacks continued till late afternoon, Meeteis retaliated in the state's capital, consequently resulting in spread of the violence to various towns and villages across the state.

By targeting the innocent Meetei villagers, the Kuki perpetrators have demonstrated that they do not believe in taking recourse to legal means for addressing outstanding issues.

Moreover, the recent attack on vehicles of security convoys escorting passenger carriers in Kuki-populated Kangpokpi district clearly established that the Kuki people and the civil society organisations are firmly against the centre's move to ensure free movement along the highways, which is also mandated by the Constitution of India.

As such, Justice Gavai's observation that people staying in relief camps want to return to their homes and that efforts of the Governor would eventually bring peace and normalcy in Manipur, is unlikely to bear fruit anytime soon, as is evident from Kuki leaders and civil bodies yet to reciprocate positively to the centre's call and move for peace process.

Apart from separate administration, Kuki political figures and various other organisations had insisted on resignation of N Biren as the chief minister and dismissal of the BJP-led coalition government to pave the way for imposition of the President's Rule in the state, with both the latter demands fulfilled by the centre, apparently hoping that such a step would help bring the peeved Kuki organisations and the elected representatives to the negotiating table.

However, nearly two months after the state has been brought under the control of the Union government, there is no sign of an end to the conflict, other than cessation of the violent confrontations between the two warring communities after over 20 months.

Thus, the Kuki bodies' indifference to the centre's efforts to restore normalcy merits stringent action instead of continuing to rely on the tried but failed pacification policy.