Mind boggling level of politics : EU Parliament to schools
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: December 21 2023 -

The level of politics that is at play is mind boggling and at the same time stupefying as well.

To those who have kept a close tab on Manipur ever since the place went up in flames on May 3, 2023, the politics being played at different levels would not have gone missing.

It started off with the fantabulously cooked up story that sought to portray the ongoing clash as one between tribals and non-tribals.

Not everyone is a fool and there were no takers for this tale that came straight out of the imaginative minds of some ‘word wizards‘, who know how to string words and portray a tale that would go in their favour before the international community.

Next was the bid to give it a religious twist and portray what is happening in Manipur as the majority Hindus butchering the minority Christians, never mind the fact that the first attacks were launched on the places of worship of the Meiteis at Churachandpur and Moreh.

The damaged Temple of Ima Kondong Lairembi at Moreh and countless number of other places of worship continue to stand as mute testimony to this day.

It was in using the religious card that the matter was taken to the floor of the European Parliament to earn some brownie points, but that it ultimately boomeranged is there for one and all to see.

All these steps taken up went hand in hand with the fantastically spun out other false narratives that were lapped up by quite a number of pen pushers, so much so that all Imphal based media houses were dubbed as Meitei media.

Manipur should be aware of the different strategies that have been adopted by those who are hell bent on dismembering the existence of the place as a distinct geo-political reality but the critical question is whether the people who have stood by the idea of Manipur are aware of this fact and are accordingly responding to the unfolding situation or are busy pursuing their own goals blinded by a fair dose of self centred egoism.

The confusion that has been created should be clear to all and one cannot allow this state of reality to linger if the people have to face the challenges effectively.

The latest move is obviously the affiliation of 25 schools located in the Kuki-Zo areas to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and while there is nothing wrong per se in such a move, the fact of playing politics with education and obviously with the education of the young children is obvious.

That CBSE has cancelled the affiliation move of these schools is there for one and all to see, but one should not lose sight of the politics that is being played at different levels.

The common thread that runs through the politics that is being played is the call for a Separate Administration.

From a level as high as the European Parliament, to dexterously cooking up false narratives to the level of playing politics with the education of the young children with false affidavits, and it should be clear that no level is too high or too low for the elements out there whose calling card is to dismember Manipur.

The crucial question is whether those who have taken up cudgels on behalf of Manipur are ready to shed their ego, narrow outlook, their misplaced sense of importance and acknowledge the reality that is being played out right before their own eyes.

This is not the time to flex one’s muscle around the same set of people who stand by the idea of Manipur.

Not the time to rub those who have been maintaining a neutral stand the wrong way and certainly not the time to create more ‘enemies’.

Certainly not the time to settle a political score or two, for the necessity of the current situation calls for everyone to strike a common stand.

Manipur should acknowledge the reach of the adversary and accordingly respond to the situation.

This is where it becomes very important for everyone to acknowledge that this is not the time to settle personal scores and certainly not the time to flex one’s muscle amid the people who have always stood by the understanding of Manipur.

To come out tops, it is indispensable to know the nemesis and to come anywhere near this understanding, Manipur would need as many friends as possible.