Unraveling the Complexities of Peace: A Closer Look at the Manipur State

Published on 15th May 2023 on NewsLink

Once upon a time, Manipur was known as the "Land of Jewels" thanks to its stunning beauty and vibrant culture, as celebrated by the great Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. However, over time, the state has become notorious for frequent strikes and protests, earning it the dubious title of the "State of Bandh". The Manipur State spans an area of approximately 22,327 square kilometres, with two distinct terrains dominating its landscape. The central region comprises a flat valley, which only accounts for a mere 10% of the total area, while the remaining 90% is covered by undulating hills and mountains. The valley area is home to five districts, where the Meitei people, belonging to various categories such as General, Other Backward Classes, and Schedule Castes, predominantly follow Hinduism and Islam. In contrast, the 11 districts of the hilly region are inhabited by various ethnic groups, including Nagas, Kukis, Zomis, Hmars, and others, who share a Christian faith and are classified as Schedule Tribes.

According to 2011 census, the population of Manipur State stood at a grand total of 27,21,756 souls. The Meitei people, comprising 60% of the population, resided in the lush valley districts, while the remaining 40% of the population belonged to various hill tribes. Back when Manipur joined the Indian Union in 1949, the Meitei folks were showered with a plethora of perks, while the tribal communities were left to fend for themselves. In 1972, out of the 60 assembly seats, the Meitei snagged a staggering 40 seats, while a measly 20% was granted to the Tribals. To make matters worse, the hill districts were only allocated a paltry 26% for education, 25% for health, 22% for public works, 12% for social welfare, and a minuscule 12% for agriculture from the state budget. This grossly unfair distribution of resources left the hill folks far behind in terms of development, with all the fancy infrastructure concentrated in the valley districts.

Incorporated alongside Nepali and Konkani into the 8^th Schedule, the Meitei language became the subject of a fervent campaign by the Meitei people to have it included as a compulsory subject in all schools. Not stopping there, they pushed to have the Meitei Alphabet (Meitei Majek) replace all other languages on office and shop signboards. This initiative caused consternation among the Nagas in Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Senapati, and Chandel districts, who sought to break away from the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur (BOSEM) and join the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE). Unfortunately for them, the Manipur government refused to issue a 'No Object Certificate,' leaving their efforts futile.

The Tribal population is dissatisfied with the state's job reservation policy. Despite comprising 37% of the population, their reservation status only stands at 31%. Adding to the complexity, certain members of the Meitei community from Sekmai, Phayeng, Khurkhul, Koutruk, Laimaram, Kwatha, Laimaram Khunou, and Andro are attempting to attain Tribal status, which was previously offered by the Central Government. It is noteworthy that these Meitei already hold SC and OBC status. Therefore, if Meitei individuals in the General Category seek to change their status, they should consider applying for SC or OBC status. The concern is that if Meitei individuals were to be granted Tribal status, it would significantly hinder the prospects of the current Tribal population in obtaining government jobs.

With a massive population and limited space in their valley, the Meitei people sought to expand their territory in secret by taking over land belonging to the local tribes. While chieftainship had been abolished in many parts of India, it still existed in some parts of Manipur, and the Village Authority Act of 1956 protected tribal land. However, the Meitei despised this act and introduced the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (MLR & LR) Act of 1960, hoping to seize tribal lands for themselves.

In 2015, three bills - the Protection of Manipur Peoples (PMP) Bill, the Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms (MLR & LR) 7^th Amendment Bill, and the Manipur Shops and Establishment (MS&E) 2^nd Amendment Bill - were passed by the State Assembly with the main goal of surreptitiously taking over tribal lands. Unsurprisingly, the tribal people fiercely opposed these bills, resulting in the deaths of nine of their own. Despite the Meitei's efforts, the bills ultimately failed.

Since the ascension of Mr. N Biren Singh as Chief Minister, the rift between the Meitei Community and the Tribal has deepened. He has seized the opportunity to lay claim to tribal land by designating certain areas as Forest Reserves, Protected Areas, Wetlands, Sanctuaries, and Parks, making feeble excuses to do so. This has caused great offense to both the Christian community and the Manipur tribals, who were left reeling when, on April 11^th, 2023, JCBs were used to demolish three Christian Churches in the early morning hours.

The BJP-led Chief Minister of the Manipur State, Mr. N Biren Singh has been notorious for branding the tribals as illegal immigrants and poppy cultivators, and has shown a marked bias against them. To make matters worse, the big Meitei media outlet, ISTV, has referred to the tribal language as a "foreign language," further highlighting the extent of the discrimination they face. The situation is appalling.

The peaceful 'Tribal Solidarity March' organized by the All Tribal Students Union (ATSUM) in Manipur on May 3^rd, 2023, was a response to the Manipur Government's actions against them. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) also extended their support to the cause. However, on their way back from the rally, the marchers were confronted by the Meitei Leepun, who not only vandalized the 'Anglo Kuki War Memorial Gate' but also set ablaze nearby villages. This sparked off escalating tensions, with both sides trading accusations. The Meitei's false allegations blaming illegal migrants for the riots were proven baseless, as migrants from Myanmar usually head to Mizoram due to Manipur's strict migrant policies. This triggered the current wave of inter-ethnic riots in the Manipur State, displacing many and claiming lives, with tribals suffering the most, according to several media reports and social media posts.

To restore peace, the central government deployed troops to the affected region, but there have been reports and viral videos on social media that suggest these troops are helping the Meitei faction. In one such video, young Meitei individuals were seen burning the Indian national flag. With Christian churches, structures and buildings being the primary targets of these disturbances, it raises concerns over the BJP's ambition to establish a Hindu state in the country. The people of Northeast India have been grappling with numerous challenges since the BJP-led party's ascent in certain states of the Northeast.