What are the feedbacks to Delhi ? Note the aggression
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: January 18, 2024 -

Why is Delhi dragging its feet on the matter ?

What is the feedback that Delhi is receiving from its man Friday, Security Advisor to the Government of Manipur, Kuldiep Singh ?

These are not spur of the moment questions, but points being raised by looking at the reality, the reality of what is happening at Moreh and what has been happening at the border town since the last few days of December, 2023.

It is obvious that Delhi has also preferred to look the other way, refusing to toe the line of Chief Minister N Biren, a man who Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave a clean chit, underlining his point with the words, ‘The Chief Minister is co-operative’.

This was not said during a public meeting or at a social or political event, but on the floor of Parliament in the early part of August 2023.

This was the faith and confidence that Delhi had reposed on Chief Minister N Biren back in August last year and fast forward to January, 2024 and one is left wondering where that faith and confidence have gone when the Chief Minister publicly announced that he suspects the hands of Myanmar based militants in the series of attacks at Moreh.

Case of Delhi and Imphal talking in two tongues or a case of taking the people of Manipur for a ride or a case of Delhi more inclined to what its man Friday, Kuldiep had to say when he pointed out that there is no evidence of Myanmar based militants being involved in the series of attacks on the security forces at Moreh ?

Either way the situation does not speak well for Manipur, for this is a perfect example of Imphal and Delhi talking in two tongues and such a case cannot be good for Manipur and her people.

Series of attacks on security personnel at Moreh from the last few days of December last year to now shooting to death two police personnel at the border town on January 17.

It was not just a one off thing, for intense gun battles ensued between the Kuki militants and the security personnel and one is left wondering what is holding back the State Government from demanding that the SoO pact be abrogated.

That the attack and the precise manner in which two police personnel were shot dead could not have been the handiwork of any village volunteer but had all the writings of well trained persons pulling the trigger, much like the case of the Moreh SDPO who was killed by a sniper on October 31 last year, should be clear to Delhi and Imphal.

Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh may have been under the impression that there is no evidence of Myanmar based militants having a hand in the series of attacks on the security personnel at Moreh but one wonders what his take would be on the situation at Moreh now.

Is it the work of just village volunteers or Kuki militants ?

From where have the sophisticated weapons come from ?

These very questions itself should answer the points that have been raised.

What these questions have not answered is however what Delhi intends to do.

Doesn’t the unwillingness to admit to the involvement of elements from outside the country run counter to the earlier position of illegal immigrants from across the border position held by External Affairs Minister S Jaishanker ?

And how about the suspicion raised by Chief Minister on the involvement of elements from across the border ?

As pointed out earlier, remember the Chief Minister is a man who the Union Home Minister had described as a man who is cooperating.

Given the brazen manner in which police personnel are being targeted at Moreh, Delhi would do wise to question why Kuki CSOs like the CoTU and ITLF are so strongly against the deployment of State police at Moreh and are all in favour of forces like the Assam Rifles.

What does such a posturing say ?

There will be no answer, but here is a near perfect script to further drive the wedge of differences between Manipur and the Central security personnel.

This is a natural fallout.

The Sangai Express joins in saluting the departed soul of the police personnel killed at Moreh in the wee hours of January 17, 2024.