Northeast MPs weigh in on Manipur crisis: ‘President’s rule needed … Why is Centre keeping mum?’

“My solution (to the problem) is the imposition of President’s Rule, which will enable the Centre to settle everything by being involved directly. The number of armed Meiti and Zo people involved in the conflict is greater than the strength of the Manipur police. The CM may want to stop the violence but does not have the resources as his policemen are either supporting the militants or are afraid of them. The Indian Army can stop the violence in a week,” said K Vanlalvena, Rajya Sabha MP from Mizoram and Mizo National Front (MNF) leader.

However, Vanlalvena was not enthused by the Centre’s decision to reimpose the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in some areas of the state. “AFSPA will not heal the pain and will harm both the Meiteis and Zos. It has not solved anything in Manipur,” he said.

In favour of a political solution to the crisis, the Rajya Sabha MP urged the Centre to constitute an official team to ascertain the areas inhabited by the Meitei and the Zo people and create new administrations for them. A separate administration has been a longstanding demand of the Kuki-Zo people, who largely inhabit the hills of the state. Since the onset of violence in May 2023, the demand has acquired greater momentum though it is unacceptable to the Meiteis. The strife has also altered the mixed-population nature of several areas in the state

In the last couple of weeks alone, around 20 people have been killed while more than 60,000 have been displaced since the start of the conflict in May 2023.

Zoram People’s Movement leader and Lok Sabha MP from Mizoram, Richard Vanlalhmangaih, said it was the Centre’s and the state government’s responsibility to resolve the crisis but stopped short of blaming either.

“I do not know who to blame. Manipur has emerged as a burning issue. The government is trying its best but unfortunately has not been able to resolve the conflict. We can only support the displaced by giving them shelter, food and education in our state. We have been doing that and will continue to do so till normalcy is restored,” he said.

Voice of People Party (VPP) MP from Shillong, Ricky Andrew J Sungkon, whose party is neither a part of the NDA nor the INDIA bloc, called for a focus on the crux of the problem. “The Northeast is very diverse with different languages and cultures. We are not a homogenous group of people. All along, there has been a peaceful atmosphere in the region but there is always a tendency to divide and rule this region for power,” he said.

Sungkon was critical of Conrad Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP) that pulled out of the NDA government in Manipur this week over the issue, the Centre, and the Biren Singh government. “While the state burns, some parties took so long to withdraw from the government. Why is the Centre keeping mum? They should try hard to restore peace and normalcy. The state government too should have nipped the problem in the bud,” he said.

Congress Lok Sabha MP from Tura, Saleng A Sangma told The Indian Express that replacing Singh as CM could be a part of the solution. “It has been 18 months now and the violence continues unabated but the central government has taken no concrete steps to douse it. Perhaps, sacking the CM can make a difference,” he said.

NPP’s Rajya Sabha MP Wanweiroy Kharlukhi said the best person to speak about the issue was his party leader Sangma who recently told The Indian Express that a change of guard in Manipur was the necessary first step towards combating the endless spiral of violence.