Actions will speak louder than words in Manipur

Oinam Nabakishore Singh *

Face-off between Protesters and Security forces at Kwakta and Phougakchao Ekhai in September 2023 :: Pix - Khaba Kh

It is, indeed, disheartening to notice people at high places invariably make inaccurate narratives on a very serious crisis like the one prevailing in Manipur. Union Ministers including Prime Minister trivialize the crisis by referring to the past conflict between Kuki and Naga tribes in Manipur and the time taken to come back to normalcy as if it were normal for the State to witness inter-community conflict more often than not. It is made to look as if conflict is inherent in the State.

Such trivialization of the present serious conflict, which has no resemblance in terms of genesis and evolution of other past conflicts, allows the Central Government to give themselves a shield against their failure to resolve the crisis.

Manipur Chief Minister never fails to praise the Prime Minister by saying that the latter is constantly monitoring the situation in Manipur on 24x7 basis besides the Union Home Minister. He also comes out in clear terms that the Prime Minister is making a lot of fund available for the State. Mentioning Manipur in the budget speech is immaterial, according to him.

He ridiculed the Opposition Congress party for indulging in petty politics when Manipur is not mentioned in budget speech of Union Finance Minister. While the conflict in Manipur is very complex and intricate, the Government at the Centre and State comes out with statements on the decline in incidence of violence with the intent to convey a positive sentiment.

The State Government organizes a number of functions, where benefits of development schemes and welfare measures are distributed with pomp and grandeur at City Convention Centre to create an illusion of “all is well”. The ongoing conflict and suffering of all especially those in relief camps are conveniently ignored and not mentioned so as to sweep difficult issues under the carpet.

Dealing with difficult situations requires a lot of courage and determination. Besides, when the situation is complex, analysis of the same requires knowledge and experience. In order to measure the depth of water, one may have to dive into it.

Superficial knowledge and information may lead to incorrect conclusions. A case in point to be considered in the context of the present conflict is attributing to illegal immigrants as the ones responsible for the violence. This is in fact far from truth.

As per estimate by the Cabinet sub-committee of Manipur Government, the number of illegal immigrants from Myanmar, which were detected was about 2200. Assuming that the actual number of illegal immigrants is twice or thrice of this number, will it be logical to conclude that some 5000 illegal immigrants would muster the resources and courage to launch a massive attack on the habitations of Meiteis in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts.

Besides, there was assault on the Meitei villages in Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishenpur, Kakching and Thoubal districts by the Kuki –Zo community.

One Shri Naorem Ibomcha Singh, who is now sheltered at Phubala relief camp after being displaced from Khumujamba Leikai in Churachandpur told Raj Nongthombam of SK TV that the assault on Meitei localities and habitations were launched by the local Kuki-Zo community members known to him for years.

If the truths of the ground reality is twisted to blame illegal immigrants for the large scale attacks on the Meitei community by those at the helms of affairs, it will make finding of solution to the conflict all the more difficult. Manipur Chief Minister sees National Register of Citizens (NRC) as a panacea to the present conflict. The outcome of NRC exercise in Assam will tell a different story.

Harping on NRC by the Chief Minister only serves two purposes. One, the State Government is committed to identification of illegal immigrants from Myanmar and their deportation. Second, it tries to deflect the attention of the public from the present crisis and convey an illusion of “good” work being done by the authority.

The Chief Minister of Manipur does not fail to take any available opportunity to be Chief Guest at any and all State Government programmes, which may be delegated to the concerned Minister to do the honour, so as to get the photo opportunity and consequent visibility.

In such cases, there is little difference between the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and Chief Minister, Shri N. Biren Singh in availing credits for any achievement without sharing the same with other Cabinet colleagues.

Depiction of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister in every publicity materials at the cost of others is a testimony of centralization of power in their respective offices and it has a flavour of authoritarianism. On the flip side, they have to take discredit for failure on any front as the public would attribute both success and failure equally to them.

Parliamentary democracy as being practiced in Manipur embodies collective accountability, where the members of the Council of Ministers are individually and collectively responsible to the legislature. With truncated period of each session of the State Assembly in the past few months, the crisis in the State was not adequately discussed.

Rather, resolution to abrogate Suspension of Operation was passed as if the same would restore peace and tranquility in the State. As mentioned before, implementation of NRC is desirable in the medium and long term.

However, it will not immediately help in solving the crisis. However, the Manipur Chief Minister incorrectly tells the people of Manipur that implementation of NRC in the State has commenced by taking bio-metric data of illegal immigrants from Myanmar.

Such misleading and incorrect statements are nothing but cosmetic, and they will not help in relieving the pains of the people. What is actually required is a roadmap with milestones to be achieved through dialogue or use of force or by both.

Such plans and programmes have not chalked out either by the Centre or State through a process of confidence building and consultation. It is not time for honeyed words. Rather, it is time to take the bull by the horns.

Enough water has flowed down the Ganges over the last fifteen months. The whole Cabinet of the State Government must put their heads together and come up with solutions to the present crisis. Manipuri proverb-no one else will sweep your courtyard-tells us that we are responsible to find solution to the problem. We cannot allow the Central Government to dictate the course of events as the State is independent of the Centre according to Constitution of India.

Manipur Government is fully endowed with Constitutional power to act in response to the present situation. It is more than obvious that the present dispensation cares more for politics over their own responsibility. It is in everybody’s knowledge that as a political party, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) paid a heavy price at the last Lok Sabha Election as both the seats were won by the Indian National Congress.

In case, there is no solution sooner, BJP will have to pay a similar price in subsequent elections in the State. The prolonged crisis in Manipur and failure of both the Central and State Governments lends support to leaders of Opposition political parties at National level to launch attacks on the leadership of the Government.

Any exposure of failure will not go down well with the people of the country for the ruling BJP not only in Manipur, but also in other States. Any discerning and well-meaning citizen of India will wonder if both the Governments of BJP in the Centre and Manipur have lost their capacity to govern a difficult State like Manipur.

Challenge may be daunting; however, sincere efforts are missing. One must remember that one has to pay the price, be it all powerful Prime Minister or Chief Minister. In Manipur, its people are still waiting for the Godot.