Opinion: Manipur Ethnic War Challenges Idea of India
Lt Gen A S Pendharkar, GOC, in Imphal. Image credit X.com @SpearCorps
Centre Must Take Charge of Manipur to Stop Mayhem
By Manish Anand
New Delhi, November 18: Konrad Sangma walked out of the BJP-alliance in Manipur to save an embarrassment that will stay for ages. India yesterday hit the international headlines for the floating bodies of six members of a family found in a river in Manipur.
The Kuki Students Federation has given a state-wide call of violence against the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The angry Meitei women stormed residences of ministers and legislators in Imphal to vent out their anger.
Also Read: Amid Manipur tension India to scrap free movement of people with Myanmar
The armed Kuki activists have resorted to guerrilla tactics to shock and awe Meitei population in Manipur. In areas held with domination, the Kuki militants are staging parade with guns per images doing rounds on internet.
The National People’s Party (NPP) while withdrawing support from the Manipur government, reasoned that the state administration “completely failed to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy”. The NPP-led by Sangma walked out from the NDA after watching over 18 months of civil war in Manipur.
Sangma’s conscience shook after Manipur grabbed national attention for brutal killings of six members of a family. The small kids were also not spared the sickening brutality.
Lt Gen A S Pendharkar, GOC, visited the units of the Indian Army and the Assam Rifles units in Manipur yesterday. His interactions with the troops deployed in security duties in Imphal show an urgency of highest attention.
Also Read: EGI report connects dots of Manipur violence partisan state
Units of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles have undertaken flag marches in Imphal at Sanjenthong, Khurai Lamlong Bridge, Thongju Bridge, Koirengei, Kangla Western Gate, Keishampat, Chungtham, Salam Mayai Leikai, Konthujam, Mayang Imphal, Hiyangthang, Nambol, Mantripukhri, Babupara, Wangjing, Thoubal and Lilong of Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal districts, in coordination with security forces.
Beleaguered Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has survived in his office since May last year despite no signs of normalcy. The violence-affected people are living in camps for months.
Former Army Chief General (Retd) MM Naravane early this year had warned of Manipur sitting on a tinderbox. The Centre’s decision to close the border with Myanmar to stop the movement of the people has yielded no results.
Myanmar is imploding with rebels having wrested a large part of regions in border areas. The writ of the Military Junta in Myanmar is shrinking.
Also Read: Military rule in Myanmar fueled Manipur unrest: Amit Shah
Naravane’s warning had the backdrop of geostrategic fault lines crossing into Manipur. The Myanmar refugees have also reportedly come in a large number to the Kuki-dominated hills of Manipur and Mizoram.
The civil war in Manipur has eclipsed the state level politics. The extraordinary situations call for an equally extraordinary response.
Only the Centre can respond to the extreme exigency in Manipur. It’s foolhardy to rationalise Manipur civil war with comparisons from the past of the Congress failures in Manipur.
History lights up the path for informed passage amid existing challenges. Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah has an onus to dissect Manipur crisis in an apolitical manner.
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