Political pressures, Kuki agenda root cause of violence: Dr Bimol
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 12 2024: Congress MP Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam delved into the factors fuelling the ongoing violence in Manipur, and attributed recent escalation to a mix of political pressure from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the manipulations of Kuki politicians.

Dr Bimol shed light on the deeper causes of unrest in the region, highlighting that the violence, while increasing in intensity recently, never truly abated despite official claims of normalisation.

He criticised the government's narrative of improving conditions, cautioning that the situation in Manipur is far more complex than the authorities present.

In an exclusive interview with News9 Live recently, Dr Bimol pointed out the problematic nature of reducing the conflict to mere statistical instances of violence.

He dismissed claims made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders that the state had been steadily returning to normalcy since August last year.

"People don't understand the nature of the conflict.

You can't simply count instances of violence and say everything is normal," he argued, suggesting that the public are being misled by official statements that gloss over the underlying tensions simmering in the state.

One key factor contributing to the escalation, according to Dr Bimol, is the BJP's internal pressure to resolve the Manipur issue within 100 days, a promise the party made earlier.

The deadline might have intensified the situation, particularly with BJP leaders like Sambit Patra visiting the state.

Furthermore, Dr Bimol touched on the role of chief minister N Biren, who recently held meetings with the Governor.

He speculated that there might be internal demands within the BJP government for the unified command of security forces.

There's speculation that the CM is demanding unified command authority, but no official statement has been made, he said.

The Congress MP also identified another critical factor fuelling the unrest: the political manoeuvres of Kuki politicians.

Dr Bimol highlighted how, within just 24 to 48 hours of the crisis erupting, demands for a separate administration and accusations of ethnic cleansing were raised by Kuki leaders on national platforms.

He suggested that these demands are part of a broader agenda to advance ethnic divisions within the state, arguing that Kuki politicians are leveraging the violence to strengthen their bargaining positions as the BJP's 100-day promise unfolds.

In addition to these local dynamics, Dr Bimol speculated that international factors could also be at play in the Manipur conflict.

He cited the possibility of ethno-nationalist agendas extending across borders, as well as the influence of drug cartels operating in three countries.

There could be an international dimension to this conflict that needs thorough investigation, he remarked, Calling for deeper scrutiny of the external forces that might be exacerbating the violence.

In the continuation of his interview, Dr Bimol highlighted the constitutional importance of maintaining law and order under the jurisdiction of the state government.

When asked about the necessity of a unified command of security forces under the state's political leadership, he emphasised that this is not merely a matter of preference but a legal and constitutional right of the state government.

"The government of Manipur did not stand up like a man and say this is my right," he stated, criticising the state government for its passive stance in asserting this authority.

According to Dr Bimol, the failure to take a firm stand on this issue has weakened the federal structure of the Constitution and expressed regret that, apart from a single MLA who wrote to the Home Ministry , the state government has remained largely silent on this matter, further eroding the state's authority over law and order.

Citing the work of Dr BR Ambedkar, Dr Bimol underscored the sovereign and plenary authority of the state in managing its law and order.

He accused the Manipur government of surrendering this authority to the central government, which has fuelled frustration among the Meetei community.

Many initially believed that the deployment of central forces would help resolve the conflict, but the violence persisted, further intensifying resentment towards both the central and state governments.

"People have been destroying radios and burning effigies of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister, testifying rise in resentment against the Centre amid the crisis," he said.

Dr Bimol also delved into the complexities of the ethnic divide between the Meetei and Kuki communities, explaining that the current violence is not solely a hill-valley divide but is largely driven by contestation over land, particularly in the valley and foothill regions.

An objective understanding of this dynamic is crucial to finding a solution to the conflict, he stressed.

One of the most troubling aspects of the conflict, according to Dr Bimol, is the narrative of ethnic cleansing propagated by certain Kuki politicians and intellectuals.

This narrative, which claimed that Kukis were entirely absent from the valley, was framed within 48 hours of the crisis.

However, it later collapsed when it was discovered that Kuki houses and residents still remain in Imphal.

"This narrative has been used to demand separate administration, " Dr Bimol said, accusing Kuki politicians of using the violence as a political tool to advance long-standing separatist demands.

Despite the escalating tensions, Dr Bimol noted that voices calling for peace do exist within the Meetei community, though he claimed similar appeals have not been made by Kuki leaders.

He drew a parallel between the current violence and the Muslim League's Direct Action Day in 1946, describing May 3 as the equivalent of August 16 - the day of direct action.

Dr Bimol emphasised the importance of distinguishing between the Kuki leadership and the general Kuki population.

He lamented that while there are many Kukis who have lived as legitimate Indian citizens, contributing to society and feeling a strong attachment to the land, their voices seem to have been silenced during the ongoing conflict.

He further criticised the government's inability to manage the situation, both politically and militarily.

According to him, the government's failure to control the violence might be part of a larger political ploy to deepen divisions among the people.

"You make the people hate each other and fight so much, then you divide them," Dr Bimol said, suggesting that prolonged conflict serves political agendas.

Dr Bimol also addressed the role of security forces in the ongoing crisis.

He shared his concerns about the lack of coordination between various security agencies, including Assam Rifles, BSF, CRPF, Army, and Manipur Police, which are supposed to work under a unified command.

He cited the September 1 incident, when Assam Rifles and Manipur Police gave conflicting accounts of the same event, highlighting the failure of coordination between the forces.

Dr Bimol criticised the leadership of these agencies, accusing them of falling into a trap that further polarises the situation.

He also condemned the release of videos by regular army units that portrayed Meira Paibis-women vigilante groups in Manipur in a negative light.

"You can't just brand them," he said, explaining that security forces should work to de-escalate tensions when dealing with citizens in conflict zones, rather than exacerbate divisions.

"When you're dealing with your own citizens..., you try to understand why they are doing like this.

Instead, in the binary fashion, Meetei did this and that particular kind of position of the Armed Forces is exploited by those Kuki politicians by saying that look at this Meetei women are like this.

It is like you're just demonising.

Army officers should have known right from the beginning moment that if we do this it will lead to the demonisation of the people," he said.

There is a Kuki separatist, sectarian political movement pushing for a separate administration, and this involves not only their politicians but also certain academics, NGOs, and their fronts, Bimol said.

These groups claim to speak on behalf of the entire Kuki population, but in reality, they are dragging innocent civilians into their political agenda, he added.

Speaking about his letter to home minister, Amit Shah, Dr Bimol said that he urged the government to investigate reports of security agencies acting in a partisan manner and to take steps to address the growing trust deficit among the people.

He called for accountability if allegations of bias are found to be true, stressing the need to restore public trust in state institutions as a critical step towards resolving the conflict.

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