Alarming turn

May 29, 2023

Context:

Violence has flared again in Manipur, merely three weeks after conflagrations resulted in scores of deaths and the displacement of people in Churachandpur and Imphal in particular.

Grotesque turn:

Protests against an order by the High Court of Manipur to seek the inclusion of the Meitei community into the State’s Scheduled Tribe list, has taken a grotesque turn, with representatives of the Kuki-Zomi community seeking a “separate administration”.

Raising of ire of Kuki-Zomi hill dwellers:

The government’s so-called anti-poppy cultivation drives were seen as moves against the Kuki-Zomi hill dwellers, raising their ire, while the High Court’s single judge Bench’s ill-thought-out order — as the Chief Justice of India, himself observed as being violative of a 23-year-old Constitution Bench judgment — exacerbated the situation.

How to bring back normalcy?

Act Together: The State government must get its act together, with the help of the Centre, to bring back normalcy by increasing patrolling of paramilitary and police forces in riot-torn areas, providing relief to displaced people and curtailing the influence of militant sections.
Displaced to their homes back: A plan to allow the return of those displaced to their homes in the medium term must also be put into order with the help of the security forces.
Promotion of civic consciousness: Manipur, like some of the other northeastern States, needs to promote a civic consciousness among its citizens that will allow them to rise above ethnic identities to differentiate themselves.
Time for civil society members: With trust fraying between community leaders and State government representatives, it is incumbent upon civil society members, within and outside Manipur, to take up the cause of rebuilding inter-community ties and not letting chauvinist and militant groups hijack the role of representation.