VK Sanju
The ripples of communal violence that have erupted in Manipur are spreading to the neighbouring States of Mizoram and Assam. And now, the entire North-Eastern region of the country is experiencing unrest after a short period of lull. The Meitei community in neighbouring States now finds itself being held accountable for the atrocities the Kuki community faces in Manipur.
After the warnings issued by some former separatist leaders in Mizoram, a significant number of the Meitei community members have been fleeing in large numbers to areas in Manipur and Assam where their community is dominantly present.
Following the 'threat' about safety, around 1,000 Meitei people have fled from Mizoram seeking refuge in Assam's Barak Valley. Even while DGP Anil Shukla says it was not a fear-driven exodus, statistics suggests otherwise.
Alongside, this ‘threat’ and subsequent exodus has provoked strong reactions from the All-Assam Manipuri Students' Union (AMSU). Using similar language, it has now issued a threat that all Mizoramese living in Assam's Barak Valley should leave "in the interests of their own safety".
The advisory says that the majority of Meiteis living in Mizoram originally hail from Assam. The insecurity they face there has angered the Meitei community in Assam. Therefore, it would be better for Mizoram residents residing in Barak Valley to leave as soon as possible for their own safety.
Separately, the Peace Accord MLAF Returns Association (PAMRA), an organisation of former separatists, has clarified that it did not issue any threat, but gave cautionary warnings, urging the Meiteis to take necessary precautions.
Greater Mizoram's claim adds fuel to fire
Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has also come out with a call proposing Greater Mizoram, integrating parts of Manipur, where there is a significant Mizoram population. Zoramthanga emphasized that pursuing this objective should not be on the path of conflict but adhering to Article 3 of the Constitution.
Mizoramites in Manipur have already started demanding autonomy. Zoramthanga said this should be reconsidered and modified to incorporate these regions into Mizoram instead. However, both the proposals face strong opposition from the Meitei community.
Reservation kickstarted violence
Origins of the current tense situation in the State go back to the Manipur High Court directive to the State Government to consider its demand for reservation for the Meitei community. The Kuki and Naga communities, classified as Scheduled Tribes, have vehemently opposed reservation in education and jobs for the Meitei community, which constitutes nearly half of the State's population. Riots erupted when the Meitei community resorted to violence in response to the protest rally organized by the Kuki community.
Meiteis reside in the highly prosperous valleys of Manipur, enjoying significant advantage over other communities in terms of employment, education and economic opportunities. Conversely, the majority of the Kukis and Nagas live in the hilly regions where development is lacking. This stark developmental imbalance is the underlying cause of the long-standing conflict among the tribal communities of Manipur.
Roots of conflict in Myanmar
Manipur shares a 400-km border with neighbouring country Myanmar. After the 2021 coup in Myanmar, thousands of refugees fled to Manipur. The Kuki community in Manipur has traditional and historical cultural ties with the Chin tribe of Myanmar. However, the arrival of the Chin tribes in Manipur raised concerns among the Meiteis, fearing that the Kukis might gain strength and influence over them.
Parallely, the State Government also initiated steps to evict tribals from the forests, alleging encroachment of government land. Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh, representing BJP, is from the Meitei community, which has further contributed to the insecurity felt by other sections.
The conversion of a significant number of Kukis to Christianity contributed to the communal dimension to the rebellion. The widespread attacks on their places of worship intensified the allegation that the BJP's communal agenda was behind these attacks. Consequently, Biren Singh is now being compared with Narendra Modi who was Chief Minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002. This has led to Opposition allegations that BJP, through Biren Singh, is attempting to replicate in Manipur the so-called successful anti-minority model implemented in Gujarat then.
