Giving undue credit
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: October 06, 2023 -

IN its latest attempt to salvage the cause of Kuki-Zo people which has suffered a setback following revelation of unholy nexus with elements inimical to the national security, Zomi Council Steering Committee (ZCSC) is learnt to have submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India expressing objection to the probe being carried out by National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a transnational conspiracy by Myanmar and Bangladesh based leadership of terror outfits to wage war against the Govt of India by exploiting the current ethnic unrest in the northeastern state of Manipur.

In its memorandum, ZCSC, which claims to represent nine Zomi tribes of Manipur, also sought early political solution for the Zo-people in Manipur and outlined how the Zomi community and its national Organisations (Zomi Re-unification Organization/Zomi Revolutionary Army) cherished the democratic principles of India and entered into SoO agreement with the Government of India for seeking political solution within the Constitutional Framework of the country in due consideration of the active role being played in maintaining peace and security along the borderlands.

The memorandum of ZCSC also made a conscious effort to highlight how the "ever-changing storylines of the Meitei community under the leadership of Meitei Chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh" is trying to discredit the cause of Zo people and cited the latest instance wherein the Chief Minister allegedly made an "unsubstantiated public statement" saying that "infiltrators from across the border are responsible for the current ethnic clashes in Manipur."

The memorandum suggested the Government of India "to look beyond the Meitei narrative as all these are outcomes of internal strife within the Meitei community, and are merely the Meitei Chief Minister's desperate moves to prolong the conflict and derail the peace process with the Zo armed groups under Suspension of Operation (SoO)".

Coming close on the heels of disowning several civil society organizations (CSOs) in India and abroad that are advocating the plight of Kuki-Chin people including North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA) which has now come under scanner for possible link with Khalistani terrorists after its Canada chapter chief Lien Gangte spoke in a Gurudwara headed by the now slain Khalistani terrorist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar seeking assistance, the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister by ZCSC appears to be nothing but a damage control measure, and in the process revealed its own self-contradictory stand.

While professing its commitment to the sagacity of Government of India in bringing an early political-solution to the cause of Zo-people within the Constitutional Framework of the country, it is interesting to note that ZCSC has raised objection to probe being carried out by NIA in a transnational conspiracy by Myanmar and Bangladesh based leadership of terror outfits to wage war against the Govt of India by exploiting the current ethnic unrest in Manipur.

NIA has already taken into custody a key leader of a Kuki militant group for his alleged involvement in the conspiracy.

If ZCSC has unwavering faith in the Constitution of the country then it should respect a statutory body like NIA as well which has been established under the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 to probe terror-related incidents and allow the agency to do its duty instead of crying foul.

As to the allegation of "ever-changing storylines of the Meitei community under the leadership of Meitei Chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh" trying to discredit the cause of Zo people, and the Chief Minister making an "unsubstantiated public statement", let's remember that Meiteis have been pointing to the nexus of militancy, narcotics and illegal infiltration from across the international border as the main factors for fuelling the present conflict in the state right from the very beginning.

And when the Chief Minister said "infiltrators from across the border are responsible for the current ethnic clashes in Manipur," he is only reiterating this point, which has now been acknowledged not only by NIA but also by Indian leaders including Union Home Minister and Minister of External Affairs.

Last but not the least, by pleading the Government of India "to look beyond the Meitei narrative" ZCSC should not give undue credit to a Chief Minister and his community in case the peace process with the Zo armed groups under SoO got derailed.

They don't have so much influence and power, we can vouch for that.