Editorial: Manipur needs healing

No doubt some credible steps were taken following the imposition of President’s Rule and resignation of the discredited BJP Chief Minister N Biren Singh but they are not enough as long as radical groups continue to indulge in nefarious activities

Peace continues to evade Manipur which was rocked by ethnic strife nearly two years ago. After a brief lull, the key north-eastern State is again in the throes of violence following the arrest of Kanan Singh, chief of radical Manipuri outfit Arambai Tenggol (AT). The backlash is largely from the Meiteis-dominated districts. Defanging extremist outfits like AT and asserting the authority of state agencies are the prerequisites for restoring peace and normalcy in the trouble-torn region. There is no doubt that some credible steps were indeed taken following the imposition of the President’s Rule and resignation of the discredited BJP Chief Minister N Biren Singh but they are not enough, as long as radical groups continue to indulge in nefarious activities. The government must act swiftly to restore its authority and regain the confidence of all communities. If necessary, the constitutional provision of the President’s Rule should be extended. Those responsible for violence must be brought to justice. The State must not bend to the mob at any cost. There is also a need for undertaking a massive outreach drive to convince the people on either side of the ethnic divide about the urgency of giving up parochial ethnic considerations in favour of progress, development and prosperity. That is the only way to bring closure to the victims of violence. It is a matter of national shame that in two years of conflict, at least 250 people have died and thousands continue to languish in relief camps across the State.

The wounds of the strife-torn State need a soothing balm; a healing touch that encompasses all the affected communities. A political solution involving civil society is the only way forward. Manipur, like most of north-eastern India, is an amalgamation of multiple cultures, faiths and ethnicities, many with a history of mistrust and violence. The onus is on the central government to step in and arrest the tide of ethnic violence involving the two warring communities: Meiteis and Kukis. The NDA government’s attempts in the past to bring the warring sides to the negotiating table have remained unsuccessful. There is a huge disconnect between the Centre and the local people, whose concerns and aspirations remain unaddressed. Manipur’s genuine civil society, cutting across ethnic divides, must be encouraged to reverse social polarisation. It is they who should be leading the discourse, not armed groups — supported by political elements — on both sides. The cause for the ongoing bout of the crisis lies in the demand by the Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe status and a strong pushback by Kukis, who inhabit the hilly regions. The ominous developments — spurt in ethnic violence, targeted killings and attacks on residences of legislators and ministers — marked a deepening crisis. The State’s challenges extend beyond insurgency and violence. Ethnic divides, regional grievances and economic stagnation have contributed to the unrest.

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