Birds of the same feather
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 29, 2024 -

THE mass rally taken out in Imphal on Friday has once again demonstrated the resolve and commitment of the people towards safeguarding the territorial as well as the administrative integrity of Manipur, which has been unfortunately rocked by an unprecedented ethnic violence that broke out on May 3 last year after people of Kuki-Chin community clashed with the Meetei/Meitei over the latter's demand for recognition as scheduled tribe (ST) under the Constitution of India.

Organised under the aegis of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), one significant feature of the rally taken out under the banner of "Manipur Kanba Khongchat (Save Manipur Rally)" was the participation of two Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), who are extending support to the BJP-led government in the state.

Participation of elected representatives of the people, especially from the assembly segments in the valley districts of Manipur, in protest rallies or demonstrations organised by civil society organisations (CSOs) is not common, if not thinkable, as such events are perceived to be against the government.

So, the participation of two MLAs, one elected from Keishamthong assembly constituency and the other representing Wangkhei assembly constituency in the Manipur Legislative Assembly, in the rally this time is a telling commentary on the increasing trust deficit of the people in the ability of the BJP-led government in the state to resolve the more than one year long ethnic conflict in northeastern Indian state of Manipur that has so far led to loss hundreds of precious human lives and displacement of thousands of families on both sides of the clash divide, apart from causing untold suffering to people of other communities living in this tiny multi-ethnic state regardless of their avowed stance of neutrality from taking sides with any of the two warring groups in the conflict despite repeated provocations and challenges thrust upon them.

The participation of two MLAs, who are extending support to the BJP-led government, in the mass rally organised by COCOMI to show the resolve and commitment of the people towards safeguarding the territorial as well as the administrative integrity of Manipur has also made the absence of other elected representatives, both from the ruling and the opposition parties, more conspicuous in the efforts being made for finding a permanent solution to the ethnic crisis.

Ahead of the rally, the women and students' wings of COCOMI had given a clarion call to all including MLAs, ministers, government employees, teachers and students for collective participation in the rally.

Interestingly, on the eve of the rally, chief minister N Biren Singh chaired a meeting with the ministers and MLAs of the ruling party which decided to go to New Delhi and call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for seeking concrete actions to bring an end to the conflict in Manipur.

It has not been difficult for anyone to understand the meeting convened by the chief minister with the ministers and MLAs of the ruling party was an attempt to stay away from taking part in the rally.

How a delegation of the same ministers and MLAs was denied appointment to have an audience with the Prime Minister despite camping in the national capital for nearly one month has not been forgotten by the people.

So, the motive behind the sudden decision taken by the ministers and MLAs of the ruling party to go to New Delhi has not been lost on the people.

But more than the shirking of responsibilities by the ministers and MLAs of the ruling party, people have been at a loss in trying to understand why none of the MLAs or leaders of the main opposition, Indian National Congress (INC) turned up at the rally to show solidarity with the people.

This only goes to prove that politicians are the same, like birds of the same feather.