NARROWING ETHNIC DIVIDE: KEY TO ENDING MANIPUR TURMOIL

Manipur, which shares borders with Myanmar, has been grappling with the consequences of continuous clashes between Meiteis and Kukis for the past one year. The clashes, which began on May 3, 2023, have resulted in the deaths of more than two hundred individuals and displacement of more than fifty thousand people. The violence erupted following a court order directing the state government to consider extending special economic benefits and quotas enjoyed by tribal people ( minority population) in government jobs and education to the Meiteis (Majority population) as well. The area has been split into a Meitei-dominated valley and Kuki-controlled hills, divided by a stretch of uninhabited territory overseen by paramilitary forces.

The merger of Manipur with India in 1949 (termed as forced one by Manipuri Nationalists) brought with it a complex ethnic landscape that the Indian government had to deal with. The region has seen clashes and violence between the Nagas and Kukis, two prominent ethnic groups in the region in the early to mid-1990s. Despite efforts to maintain peace, the underlying tensions between these two groups have never been fully resolved, leading to a persistent atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion. For many years, the four main ethnic groups in Manipur - Nagas, Zo, Kukis, and Meiteis - have harbored mistrust towards those outside their own communities. This suspicion extends beyond personal relationships and into the realm of politics and resource allocation within the state. The non-Meitei groups have long been cautious of the Meitei’s dominant role in Manipur’s political landscape. They have also expressed concerns about the disparity in infrastructure development and the distribution of benefits, which have primarily favored the Imphal Valley, home to the Meitei majority, at the expense of the hill regions inhabited by the non-Meitei population.

The recent unrest in Manipur has been attributed to the Meitei community’s long-standing demand for scheduled tribe (ST) status. This demand has been a contentious issue and perceived as a threat to their rights, territories, and lands by the Kukis and Nagas. The current conflict revolves around a territorial dispute, with land being a central factor. The Meiteis are primarily confined to a landmass encompassing the Imphal Valley and its surrounding areas. Despite constituting nearly 80% of the state’s population, they occupy only about 20% of the land, with the remaining territory located in the hills. The Meitei community has harbored a longstanding sentiment that the tribal population of Manipur enjoys exclusive rights over their ancestral lands and traditional customs, as enshrined in Article 371C of the Indian Constitution. This constitutional provision effectively restricts individuals belonging to non-tribal ethnicities from purchasing land in areas designated as tribal territories. The Meiteis have been seeking the ability to acquire land in any area of state at par with the tribals. Although the minority non-Meitei tribal communities are allocated a more extensive area on the map, the reality is that a significant portion of this land is neither suitable for habitation nor cultivation. This discrepancy between the apparent land distribution and its actual usability further complicates the situation.

The demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by the Meiteis has persisted for a considerable time, spanning several years. However, the movement has gained significant traction and momentum since 2017, with the community increasingly vocal and active in their pursuit of this recognition. The Meitei’s desire to break free from their current circumstances is perceived by the non-Meitei population as an attempt to encroach upon their territorial rights and dreams. Both sides have their own reasoning and perspectives that deserve to be acknowledged and comprehended.

The ongoing communal conflict in Manipur has significantly disrupted the state’s political landscape, leading to heightened tensions, mistrust and division among communities. Despite the Lok Sabha elections, Manipur has witnessed a lack of enthusiasm among voters. The ethnic violence has overshadowed the current polls, with civil society groups and affected individuals questioning the relevance of elections amidst the turmoil. In the first phase of polls, Manipur experienced a low turnout accompanied by incidents of firing, intimidation, destruction of EVMs, and allegations of booth capturing. The questioning of silence over Manipur turmoil by the Central Government is definitely not in national interest and the issue needs to be tackled on priority. The prolonged silence, tokenism on Manipur seems to be ending with a long overdue step by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The PM not only acknowledged the crisis in the state, but also stated the restorative action being undertaken in Rajya Sabha. This followed by the visit of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to the Northeast, including in the affected districts of Jiribam, Churachandpur and Bishnupur in Manipur reinforces the imperative for greater urgency and sensitivity by Central Government towards Manipur crisis.

Apart from the ethnic violence, the other issues that have complicated life in Manipur are - administrative negligence, dipping indices of employment, education, healthcare and infrastructure, a more virulent strain of identity politics filling them. Since the outbreak of the recent crisis, which began with the Meitei demand for ST status and a Kuki-Zo counter that it would further marginalise them economically, the Centre and the N Biren Singh-led state administration have repeatedly blamed outsiders for the violence, framing it as a law-and-order situation. Post Lok Sabha polls the CM has acknowledged his government’s failure in containing the situation and the PM rightly spoke of the necessity to go beyond politics and bring peace and stability to the state. Building consensus takes time and the pragmatism to acknowledge mistakes. It also requires the ability to replace silences with conversations and a willingness to learn from the missteps of others. Through his tenure, in his engagement with the Northeast, the PM has been proactive. It is, therefore, only befitting that he follows the LoP lead and remedies his absence from the state. Manipur needs all the attention it can get - it is only through participation and engagement that a solution that holds can emerge. Manipur’s violence is a complicated web of historical, ethnic, and political causes that continues to trouble the state as well as the country. The government and the people must work together to reduce this widening ethnic divide and find lasting solution.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Col Rajesh Bhukar The writer is a Post Graduate in International Studies, Alumni of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Combat, Mhow [email protected]