New Delhi: Lieutenant General (retd) L. Nishikanta Singh, who has been outspoken in the ethnic conflict in Manipur and drew criticism for his 2023 social media remarks that “300 lungi-clad Kuki terrorists from Myanmar had entered Manipur and burnt houses with their counterparts in the state”, has now been appointed as Adviser (Coordination) to the state chief minister.
Soon after the appointment, several Kuki-affiliated social media pages condemned the move, terming it one with “dangerous repercussions”.
They questioned the choice of a person whom, they said, had “spread misinformation against one community” and was “biased”, particularly in a state that is attempting to return to normalcy but remains volatile. The groups further termed Singh’s appointment as a setback to Manipur’s peace process.
Speaking to ThePrint Sunday, Singh said that past events should be treated as “bygones”.
He asserted that only “a few negatives” were being highlighted and held against him, while the many instances in which he had helped members of the Kuki community were being overlooked.
Singh further said that the restoration of peace and bonhomie in the state was his priority, adding that both Kukis and Meiteis must come together to ensure peace and work towards “nation building”.
“Restoration of normalcy is the priority. This will put Manipur on the path of development. It will contribute to national unity,” he told ThePrint.
He underlined that outreach efforts had already begun. “Work has already begun on the ground. The CM has reached out to all communities. His first visit was to Jiribam. We also went to Hmar village and met the relatives of the Hmar brothers who were victims. We also met Meitei brothers and sisters. We are making sure we engage with people,” he said.
Some social media handles also circulated an article written by Singh last October in praise of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), alleging that his appointment as adviser to the Manipur CM was linked to his perceived affiliation with the Sangh. The article is titled ‘100 Years of RSS: Its Contribution to the Nation, Northeast India and Manipur’ and was published in Organiser.
Responding to the allegations, Singh said: “I am not affiliated with the RSS or any other organisation. I appreciate and praise whoever does good work. They have done excellent work, and that is why I wrote about it. That does not mean I am associated with them.”
Born in Manipur in 1958, Singh was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1979 and joined the 9th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment. He became Manipur’s second Lieutenant General in September 2015.
Singh also led a rescue mission to Afghanistan after the Indian Medical Mission was attacked in February 2010. He is the third Lieutenant General from the Northeast since Independence and holds an M.Phil degree in defence studies from University of Madras. He has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal twice.
According to Singh, in his current role he would be advising the CM on security architecture, rehabilitation priorities and phased stabilisation. “The idea is to offer professional assessments of ground realities independent of partisan pressures,” he stated.
The appointment of Singh and others was made following a decision taken during a cabinet meeting held on 17 February. The order stated that the appointments were being made in public interest for a period of one year with immediate effect. Apart from Singh, Oinam Sunil Singh was appointed as Media Advisor to the CM and Krishnananda Samurailatpam Sharma as Advisor (Policy Matter) to the CM for one year. Both are Meitei.
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‘Will have to prove neutrality’
Officers in the security establishment told ThePrint that L. Nishikanta Singh is a decorated officer who understands the pulse of Manipur.
“He has served in military intelligence; he has the intellect and the experience. He has been posted in the state and knows the place inside out,” one officer said. However, the officer added that Singh would now have to “prove that he is neutral”.
“He will have to earn people’s confidence and demonstrate that he represents the state as a whole, not any one community. He has a strong service record, and his experience should prove valuable,” the officer said.
A second officer described the appointment as a positive signal from new CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh, indicating outreach to communities on both sides and an effort to take the “right steps”.
“The appointment of Lt-Gen Singh may be seen as controversial, but he is a capable officer with hands-on experience. Moreover, the intent of the new government appears constructive, as the CM is reaching out to all communities and moving in the right direction. This appointment should not derail the peace process,” he said.
‘A setback’
Lun Kipgen, Committee on Tribal Unity spokesperson, was critical of Singh’s appointment.
He said it was dangerous to appoint “a radical” as adviser to the Manipur CM and that the government should have been mindful about engaging someone who was “neutral” and not visibly biased against the Kuki community.
Speaking to ThePrint, Kipgen asserted that appointing someone with a military background, and that too one who has referred to Kukis as militants, was a major setback to the peace process and would make things go back to square one. He said the appointment made them doubt the intentions of the new government.
“It is no secret that during the conflict, he (Singh) appeared biased against the Kukis, and his comments only added fuel to the fire. If the government wanted to instil confidence among the people, it should have engaged someone neutral, perhaps even someone from Delhi, and not someone perceived to have contributed to the unrest,” he said.
According to Kipgen, while Singh is a decorated officer who commands public respect, his earlier statements concerning the Kuki community make the appointment contentious.
“Why does the government need an adviser from a military background who has made such remarks about our community? He spread misinformation, fuelled unrest. This decision needs to be reconsidered by the government,” he said.
A second Kuki leader also described the appointment as “one of the most controversial ones” that could set back the ongoing peace efforts.
“He was the one who spread fake information when the Kuki-Zo colony in Sugnu was burned down by a combined team of Arambai Tenggol, UNLF (United National Liberation Front), PLA (People’s Liberation Army of Manipur) and others,” the leader alleged.
“He continues to tweet against the Kuki community. How can we expect someone like him to work for the Kukis and towards peace? Why would the government make such an appointment at such a crucial time? It makes us doubt the government’s intentions,” the leader said.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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