By Sanjiv K Sood
The first visit of the Prime Minister to Manipur is taking place after 28 months of ethnic violence. The violence that started in May 2023 has resulted in more than 200 deaths and over 60,000 people being internally displaced.
The visit to both Kuki-dominated Churachandpur and Meitei-dominated Imphal on September 13, to address internally displaced persons and inaugurate development projects, is symbolically significant and should convey positive signals to the warring communities. The balancing act should go a long way in promoting a sense of confidence among both groups that the highest executive authority of the country treats them equally.
However, PM Modi’s trip, which is mainly focused on infrastructure development, may fall short of the expectations of those who have borne the brunt of widespread violence. What the citizens of Manipur are expecting from him and the Centre are measures to provide them closure and an end to the prolonged instability in the state.
The displaced people who are living in difficult conditions in refugee camps are looking for a better quality of life. Many of them would be willing to go back to their villages if the situation normalises. Their quality of life can improve only if a substantial relief package is announced for them as an immediate measure, with subsequent action to provide them with proper accommodation.
Those who have lost their near and dear ones in the violence or are victims of heinous crimes are seeking justice by bringing the perpetrators to book. It is unfortunate that, as per the last available information, investigations have been initiated only in a few cases related to ethnic violence. An assurance by the PM that investigations will be expedited and the guilty punished at the earliest will certainly help develop confidence among all Manipuris.
The visit by the Prime Minister, even at this belated stage, is an excellent opportunity for him to get first-hand insight into the crux of the problem. For the Meiteis, it is the demand to be declared as Scheduled Tribes so that they are allowed to purchase land in the hill areas. For the Kuki-Zo tribes, it is the fear of losing land rights if the Meiteis are declared ST and given the right to purchase land in the hills. It is coupled with the demand for autonomy because of the discrimination they feel the dominant Meiteis have subjected them to with respect to the allocation of resources for development of the hill areas.
The path towards normalcy is long and treacherous. However, a start has to be made, and the Prime Minister, by giving the right signals during his interactions and public meetings, will certainly help initiate the process.
However, the government must avoid the tendency to declare success in a hurry because half-hearted measures without bringing all stakeholders into confidence, or distorting facts to suit a particular narrative, are likely to negatively impact confidence-building measures. People from both communities are without jobs, facing high inflation, and displaced from their homes. Even worse, many within each group are trained in using weapons that are widely available in society.
It would therefore be an exemplary act of statesmanship for the PM to publicly acknowledge and express regret for the unnecessary loss of life and the hardship faced by the people of Manipur, and to assuage their sense of grievance and feeling of having been abandoned.
The writer is a retired additional director general (ADG) of the Border Security Force
