Imphal: Manipur BJP MLA, Paolienlal Haokip, a part of the group of 10 tribal legislators who demanded a separate administration for Kuki-dominated districts in the state, has accused the state of complicity in the ethnic violence that took time to be contained. In an opinion article for India Today, Haokip claimed that the violence, initially seen as purely ethnic-communal, was later portrayed by Chief Minister N Biren Singh as the state’s war on ‘narco terrorists’.
Haokip alleged that the ‘narco terrorists’ narrative served to justify the use of state forces in aiding the Meitei militia’s attacks on and burning of Kuki-Zo settlements in the foothills around the Imphal valley. However, he asserted that this narrative did not hold much weight, and he pointed to the longstanding conflict over constitutional rights, which contributed to the prolonged violence.
The BJP MLA reiterated claims of resource allocation bias, curtailment of powers of the Hill Areas Committee, and manipulation of state job reservations to restrict representation of Scheduled Tribes. He emphasized that the ethnic violence is perceived as a struggle for liberation from perceived injustices by the tribal Kuki Zo people, while the Meitei militia views it as a war to claim tribal land.
Paolienlal Haokip also accused Chief Minister N Biren Singh of being hand in glove with radical groups like Meitei Leepun and Arambai Tenggol, whom he alleged were the main perpetrators of the ethnic cleansing of the Kuki Zo community.
The BJP MLA emphasized that a biased government is detrimental to peace, and the current Chief Minister’s administration has been marked by an accentuation of bias. Haokip expressed his belief that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has misplaced priorities and mentioned that he and other Manipur MLAs have been attempting to meet with the Prime Minister to discuss the situation. He remains hopeful that the central government can bring peace to the state.
Regarding the ongoing conflict, Kuki leaders have accused the BJP government in Manipur of systematically targeting them under the guise of a war on drugs to remove them from the forests and their homes in the hills. Poppy cultivation in Manipur has expanded significantly, according to state data, leading to concerns from the Meitei community about the shrinking of their territory in the valley and the Kuki community’s worries about potential land grabs if the Meiteis are granted Scheduled Tribe status.
The situation in Manipur remains complex, with underlying issues of ethnic tensions, land disputes, and allegations of biased governance requiring careful attention and resolution to achieve lasting peace in the region.