CRITICISED for coming to Manipur only about a month after the start of the violence in the state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah used his visit there to try to restore confidence in the government. Virtually taking over the administration for the four days he spent in Manipur – unusually long for a Union Home Minister – Shah visited refugee camps, announced relief measures, met civil society groups and officials, and addressed a press conference where he stressed that government actions would be “unbiased”. Officials said it was significant that Shah did not limit his engagement to just political leaders and officials but interacted with a cross-section of civil society, including women’s groups, intellectuals and social activists. The N Biren Singh government has been accused of partisanship in its handling of the violence, particularly of turning a blind eye to Meitei aggression, fuelling Kuki anger and distrust. An official said that the Centre too realised the need to reassure the Kuki community, and that this was why Shah visited three different places dominated by Kukis in three corners of the state. In the Kuki-dominated districts of Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, the Home Minister was greeted by people carrying the Tricolour and holding banners and placards with messages saying “We Support Your Peace Mission”, “We Applaud Central Government’s Efforts to Bring Peace in Manipur” and “Our Solution is With You Amit Shah”, underlining their loss of trust in the Biren Singh government. These were interspersed with posters demanding a separate administration for Kukis and asserting the tribal right to protest. A Central government official said: “It is rare for a Union Home Minister to spend three-plus days in a small state like Manipur, no matter what the crisis. But there was a need for his direct intervention as dialogue between the warring Meitei and Kuki communities has completely broken down. His visit, we hope, will act as the needed balm. His stature means people believe the assurances he gives.” In meetings with civil society groups of both the communities, Shah repeatedly promised “independent” investigation into the violence. At Thursday's press conference marking the end of his visit, he used the word “unbiased” in context of the Centre’s efforts multiple times, as Biren Singh sat beside him. Announcing that six cases of violence would be probed by the CBI, Shah said: “I wish to assure the people of Manipur that the probe is aimed at getting to the bottom of the problem and punishing those responsible, and will remain totally unbiased.” Again, announcing a unified command of all security forces, Shah said: “It will ensure unbiased coordination of efforts of all security forces under Kuldiep Singh.” Singh was appointed Advisor to the Manipur government by the CM in the aftermath of the May 3 violence, on a nudge from the Centre. Apart from Biren Singh and his Cabinet, Governor Anusuiya Uikey, and senior state and Central officers, Shah met leaders of different political parties, the powerful Manipur mothers' group Ima, 22 Meitei community groups and 25 Kuki groups, as well as intellectuals, professors and retired officials. Speaking to the media, the Home Minister said: “I also held discussions with Olympians and national-level sportspersons from the state.” Shah took up issues such as uninterrupted supply of essential items such as food, medicines, fuel to the state's hill areas, and announced that one Joint Secretary-level Union Home Ministry official along with five directors from various ministries would camp in Manipur. Meiteis were promised fencing and greater surveillance at the Moreh border, given that “influx” from Myanmar is one of the main grievances raised by the community. Sources admitted that the message from Shah as far as the ineffectual handling of the crisis by the Biren Singh government goes, was clear. On the Opposition's questions over why it took Shah 26 days to come to Manipur, and the time he spent on the just-ended Karnataka polls, officials said the Home Minister kept a constant watch on the situation in the state. “It was his initiative to appoint Kuldiep Singh as Advisor. When Biren Singh divested state DGP P Doungel, a Kuki, of his charge, it was on the Centre’s nudge that Ashutosh Sinha was appointed,” an official said. Sources said the Centre was conscious about not letting the situation in the insurgency-affected border state fester, with a Kuki peace deal being on the verge of being signed now likely to be delayed. A Central security establishment official said one should not read politics into Shah's visit. “Even during the entire incident involving the absconding (Khalistan supporter) Amritpal Singh, the Centre and the state government had coordinated to nip the problem in the bud,” the official said. The consensus is that what happens now, though, depends entirely on a swift improvement in the law and order situation. A major part of this would involve disarming Meitei groups which are believed to have looted weapons from state armouries and cracking down on Kuki militant groups. “That will take some time,” a state official said.
