Context:

The European Parliament (EP) has adopted a motion on the Manipur violence and called on the Indian government to act immediately to solve the violence in Manipur and protect religious minorities. 

What Does the Resolution Deal With?

• Protection of Religious Minorities: Resolution deals to protect all religious minorities, such as Manipur’s Christian community, and to prevent any further escalation. 
• Grant Unhindered Access to Area: It called on authorities to grant unhindered access to the area by journalists and international observers and to end Internet shutdowns.
• Repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act: The resolution called to repeal the unlawful Armed Forces Special Powers Act in line with the recommendations of the UN Universal Periodic Review.
• Prominency of Human Rights: Resolution also called on the EU to make human rights prominent in its dialogue and relationship with India.

India’s Response to the European Parliament Resolutions:

• Internal Matter: India responded to the EP that it is entirely an internal matter.
• Aware of Internal Conditions & Taking Steps: Indian authorities at all levels, including the judiciary, are well-known aware of the situation in Manipur and are already taking steps to maintain peace and harmony and law and order.

About Manipur Violence:

• Reasons Behind Violence:
  • Orders of the Manipur High Court: The State government to submit a 10­ year ­old recommendation to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the ST list. 
  • Union Tribal Affairs Ministry’s letter: The court referred to the Ministry’s letter in 2013 to the Manipur government seeking specific recommendations along with the latest socio-economic survey and ethnographic report. 
  • Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur: 
    • It submitted a representation in 2012 demanding ST status for the Meiteis.
    • The committee also said the Meiteis needed constitutional safeguards against outsiders, stating that the community has been kept away from the hills while the tribal people can buy land in the “shrinking” Imphal Valley.

• Why are tribal groups against ST status for Meiteis?
  • Tribal groups argue that Meiteis have a demographic and political advantage over them.
  • They believe that granting ST status to Meiteis would result in job losses for tribal communities.
  • There is a concern that ST status would allow Meiteis to acquire land in the hills, potentially displacing tribal populations.
  • Tribal groups point out that the Meitei language is already included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
  • Many Meiteis have access to benefits associated with SC, OBC, or EWS status.

• Meities Argument:
  • Historical Recognition and Importance:
    • They were recognised as a tribe before the merger of the State with the Union of India in 1949. 
    • The ST status is needed to preserve the community and save the ancestral land, tradition, culture, and language of the Meiteis.
  • Constitutional Safeguards and Land Concerns:
    • The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) highlights the importance of constitutional safeguards for the Meiteis against outsiders.
    • They raise concerns about the Meiteis being excluded from the hills while tribal people can buy land in the “shrinking” Imphal Valley.

Religious Minorities in India:

• Term without Defining: The Constitution of India uses the term ‘minority’ but without its definition.
• Basis: In India, minorities are on the basis of religion or language.
• Constitutional Provisions:
  • Article 29(1): Right of ‘any section of the citizens’ to ‘conserve’ its ‘distinct language, script or culture’.
  • Article 29(2): Restriction on denial of admission to any citizen, to any educational institution maintained or aided by the State, ‘on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language or any of them’.
  • Article 30(1): Right of all Religious and Linguistic Minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
  • Article 30 (2): Freedom of minority-managed educational institutions from discrimination in the matter of receiving aid from the State.
  • Article 347: Special provisions relating to the language spoken by a particular section of any State.
  • Article 350 A: Provision for facilities for instruction in mother-tongue at primary stage.
  • Article 350 B: Provision for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities and his/her duties.

News Source: The Hindu