The lukewarm response by the government towards ongoing violence in Manipur has once again substantiated the claim of people of the North East that this region has been neglected by the political leaders and the governments because of small number of political representations of this area in the Parliament and therefore the response of the governments has remained accordingly.
According to senior Christian leader and noted social and human rights activist, John Dayal, “Even Christians do not know the full extent of the reality of the targeted violence that befell the community in Manipur on the 3rd and 4th of May 2023, a violence that is still continuing albeit sporadically with the Army not allowed to do its work, and the local militias siding with those who wrought terror on the religious minority. Each tribe that is a victim is counting its own dead, its own churches destroyed, houses burnt and people killed, wounded or chased away into the forests. Collectively, this may amount to 250-300 churches of the Kukis and Meitiesdestroyed, and over a hundred dead.”
He further said, “Officially the dead are counted at just about 70 by various agencies. The bodies are not all identified, and claimed for final rites. They include those shot by the armed forces. The governor in DayOne had enforced shoot at sight orders, implemented by default or design against the victims rather than against the aggressor parties.”
Dayaladded, “In New Delhi, a fact-finding team has been set up by a collective of North East and National Christian leaders and may visit the state as and when it physically can. But there are now enough eyewitness accounts to construct a havoc almost at par with the one in Kandhamal, Orissa. There, it may be recalled, more than 400 churches and 6,500 houses were destroyed, more than 120 killed, many women raped and 70,000 or so Christians forced to flee their homes. Justice still eludes them. Few killers have been punished. In Orissa, the killer gangs were loyal to the Sangh, protected by the BJP which was then in a coalition government with chief minister Naveen Patnaik. He identified the killer groups in a speech in the assembly. In Manipur, two groups are identified, and both are friendly with the political rulers.”
Dayal observed, “From our sources, we have a rough idea of the consequences of the targeted violence:
- Number of Churches burnt, destroyed or ransacked: 220 (Still verification going on).
- Number of Administrative buildings and Quarters burnt or vandalised: 70
- Number of Villages burnt: about 130 or more Zo-Kuki tribal Christian villages (Still verification going on).
- Number of Internally Displaced Persons: about 50,000 or above (Still verification going on).
- Number of persons who left Manipur: about 25,000 (Still verification going on but accuracy will be difficult. Mizoram has reached about 7,000 IDPs)
- Number of deaths: About 120 or more (Still identification going on)
- Number of children affected: about 7,000 (Still verification going on)
- Number of relief camps: still counting (inside Manipur: about 150 and outside Manipur about 50). Major ones are about 50.
- Case of rape by mob: 2/3 Zo-Kuki tribal Christians (so far, no FIR)
- Epicentre relief camps (Lamka town/Churachandpur): 48 relief camps.
Manipur is burning but it is least on the agenda of the government to restore peace there so that normalcy can return there. AC Michael, National Coordinator of United Christian Forum, said, “Media and government are saying that around 70 to 75 people have died in Manipur violence but nobody is saying that 400 churches have been burnt down, number of educational institutions and hospitals have been burnt down. The fight between two communities there are being misused and one community is pushed or encouraged to attack Christians. Last Sunday one community was pushed to hold protest for NRC despite curfew there and we all know who are the people behind demand for NRC. So are Christians who are approximately above 40 percent in Manipur are foreigners then why they are demanding for NRC there.”
Anastasia Gill, senior Supreme Court Lawyer and former member of Delhi Minorities Commission, while talking to Radiance, said, “I condemn Manipur violence. It has sent a wave of fear and insecurity. Politics should never be mixed with religion. It destroys unity and secular values of our nation. I feel it’s poor and the voiceless who face the brunt from such communal violence. Thousands are made homeless and have lost their loved ones. Attacks on any community in the name of religion will further divide the secular fabric of India.”
Social activist Taslim Rehmani, who is also president of Muslim Political Council of India, in his observation to the ongoing violence in Manipur, said, “Hill state mainly inhabited by Christian tribals is burning for a whole month for identity clashes. Unfortunately, post-Independence India could never come out of identity crisis for almost every community, caste, class, language, region and religion. That’s exactly what is happening in Manipur. For last 60 years RSS is working there on the ground to promote Hindu identity neglecting majority tribal religion, culture and language. Maitei who constitute only 41% of state population divided into many subcastes enjoys 66% power share in Assembly, jobs, education, and agricultural land.”
He added, “Their demand and consequently high court decisions of considering them to be granted tribal status will rob off the 33% opportunities from the Naga, Kukies, Cino and 32 other such tribals. That’s the real reason for fresh escalation of violence there. This all began after BJP took reigns of the state after floating new political parties and such electoral tactics. This proves that Implementation of old standing RSS motto of Hindi, Hindu, Hindu rashtra cannot work in hill areas and other regional cultures. Almost all the tribal populations even in adjoining north eastern states are apprehensive of this turning out situation.”
Rehmani further said, “Neighbouring Mizoram state going to poll next 3-4 months will prove how tribals are afraid of rising BJP in this region. Central government keeps neglecting infrastructural and public developments in this region for decades and now their identity is at stake. In this situation if central government doesn’t heed to the safeguards of their cultural religious and linguistic identities, it may be a big jolt to the country’s integrity, particularly when China on those boarders is active providing them with lethal sophisticated arms and such resources. It’s the duty of state and central governments to take seriously and justified steps of assimilating each and every entity of the country with their due dignity and power share.”
While condemning the violence in Manipur, JIH Vice-President Prof. Salim Engineer said, “North-East state is divided along ethnic, religious, and geographic lines, and there was a breakdown in law and order, while the state government failed to control the situation.”
Calling the prolonged violence in Manipur, in which over 65 people have lost their lives, a matter of great concern for the whole country, the JIH Vice-President demanded the Government of India exert all efforts to ensure the restoration of peace and normalcy in both the Imphal Valley and hilly districts at the earliest, as the Centre has taken over the security of the state.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently said that the BJP was trying to replicate a Manipur-like situation in her state by planning to orchestrate ethnic riots. She also condemned the recent attack on state minister BirbahaHansda’s vehicle. Banerjee further claimed that Kurmi community members were not behind the incident that took place on Friday, but the BJP activists were behind it, news agency PTI reported. She also said those attempting to fuel the ethnic riots in the state will not be spared….