Time for deep introspection on communal riots
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: May 17, 2023 -

Now that the Union government has ruled out possibility of ceding to the Kuki MLAs' demand for separate ad-ministration onus is on of the m legislators, who represent both Kuki and non-Kuki voters in their respective assembly constituencies, to focus on deescalating tension prevailing in sensitive areas as instigating violence on a particular community will cause irreparable damage to the age-old co-existence of all the indigenous communities.

Though the conflict was between two communities it's an unde-niable fact that some non-Kuki tribal people settling in the valley districts, Imphal West and Imphal West in particular, were also affected as the emotionally charged mobs ran amok and neither paid heed to pleas by the victims that they were unrelated with the mobs' target nor attempts by those among the rioters to spare the innocent ones.

In short, people belonging to different communities suffered, physically and emotionally, during the violence that went out of control for three days since May 3.

Amid the semblance of normalcy returning to the state, 10 Kuki MLAs raised the demand for separate administration on the ground that the incumbent chief minister could not be ex-pected to administer for the welfare of the Kuki population and the Meetei people could not be trusted as good neighbours.

Accepted that the Kuki and its kindred tribes were the main targets of the rioters in the valley districts but it is questionable why the Kuki legislators are yet to acknowledge that the Meetei people too were attacked and their properties destroyed beyond redemption in Kuki dominated areas.

Regardless of the ground reality that both communities suffered it is regrettable that the 10 MLAs only projected the Kuki as victims of the mob violence.

The MLAs might have raised the demand for separate under duress as it is an open secret that in Manipur's context elections are mainly contested by individuals who possess enormous wealth, have support of armed outfits and are endowed with charac-teristics to polarise the society on ethnic lines.

Rather than playing the victim card, the said MLAs should keep in mind that the violence may not have erupted had the Meetei houses not been attacked and torched in Torbung area in Churachandpur district after the Tribal Solidarity March on May 3.

As the violence spread in mixed populated areas aftermath of the Torbung incident, there is no valid reason for the Kuki MLAs to cry foul as it is but natural for any community to look for avenging acts of atrocities.

Moreover, so-called Kuki intellec-tual circle should refrain from demonising the Meetei people for suffering of the commoners but introspect who is actually scheming to drive wedge among the communities.

Thus, with home minister Amit Shah reportedly assuring that Manipur will not be balkanised on ethnic lines, the 10 MLAs who had taken the oath under the Constitution of India to protect and safeguard the territorial integrity of Manipur should endeavour to promote harmonious co-existence among the people rather than plotting to create further divisions among the ethnic groups of people merely for prolonging their lucrative political career.