New Delhi: A group in Delhi representing Meiteis has accused the Narendra Modi-led government of exacerbating tensions in Manipur and called for Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s resignation, labelling him ‘incompetent’ amid ongoing ethnic violence in the state.
“Manipur’s economic backbone is broken and CM Biren Singh is an ‘incompetent’ leader who should immediately resign,” representatives of the group said, while also urging PM Modi to visit Manipur early on in his third term.
In a press conference at Delhi’s Press Club, with a picture of a masked Modi hung behind them, the group criticised the Prime Minister’s silence on the issue and alleged that the government’s actions, and in some cases inaction, have led to a breakdown in Manipur’s economic and social fabric. “Modi and Biren Singh are playing a game with Manipur. Boots and banners cannot lead to peace in a state,” they said.
The group, which included Delhi Meitei Committee coordinators Hijam Rajen and Dr Naorem Bobo, along with Supreme Court advocate Bhanu Pratap Singh and displaced Meitei resident Leirikyengbam Ranjan Singh from Jiribam, expressed grave concerns over the ongoing ethnic violence and displacement of thousands in the state.
On 3 May, 2023, long-standing tensions between Manipur’s valley-dwelling Meiteis and hill-dwelling Kuki-Zos escalated dramatically, following a high court ruling advocating inclusion in the state’s Scheduled Tribes (ST) list. Since then, violence has persisted, resulting in more than 200 fatalities and displacement of over 50,000 people across the state.
In a shift of narrative, the group claimed that this was not a Kuki vs Meitei conflict but a fight for survival where both indigenous groups were caught in unwanted warfare, which they said escalated due to the Union government’s ignorance. They raised issues such as the erosion of state autonomy, questionable role of security forces, inaction against militant groups, ethnic bias, and fears of state division for geopolitical interests.
They also highlighted the murder of a Meitei farmer in Jiribam district which triggered widespread arson and forced displacement, affecting thousands across communities.
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‘Govt supported militants’
Jiribam resident L. Rajan, who was in Delhi for the conference, and was also among the victims of the arson attack on 6 June, said during the press conference that “both Kukis and Meiteis had lived together with brotherhood until the 3 May clashes occurred”.
“We did not want to fight but the government supported militants by providing arms. When members of our community were killed and beheaded, we had no option but to retaliate”, Rajan claimed.
The coordinators added that the role of security forces in Manipur raises serious concerns, as their actions seem to exacerbate ethnic divisions rather than restore peace. The forced relocation of Meitei and Kuki populations echoes divisive policies from India’s history, fostering unrest, they said.
Further, the group drew parallels with historical precedents, citing similarities with past strategies used in Jammu and Kashmir. They also raised suspicions about the government’s intentions in Manipur.
“The parallels with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, where massive security deployments preceded the state’s division, are hard to ignore. The Indian government may be supporting Kuki militants as part of a strategy related to the conflict in Myanmar. If true, this would represent a dangerous gambit, using our state as a pawn in a larger game with potentially catastrophic consequences for our people,” the group said.
Calling PM Modi’s silence on the issue a “conspiracy of silence,” the group demanded immediate action to restore peace and humanitarian aid for the displaced.
“We advocate for the rights of all residents of Manipur, be they Kuki, Naga, Meitei, or any other community, under the Indian government’s protection. Centralization of power in Manipur, marked by the deployment of security forces and appointment of a new security advisor, undermines local governance and responsibility. This shift, resembling a de facto imposition of Article 355, diminishes the Chief Minister’s authority and consolidates control under the Home Minister and Prime Minister,” Rajem said.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)
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