Ongoing Meitei-Kuki Conflict in Manipur: Government Inaction and the Need for Peaceful Resolution

New Delhi- The ongoing Meitei-Kuki conflict in Manipur, which shows no sign of abating, is a serious concern. The alienation between the two communities and the unprecedented hatred they have generated for each other is alarming. Meiteis cannot leave Manipur by road because the next district to the north, on the way to Kohima in Nagaland, is Kangpokpi, a Kuki-dominated area. Young Kuki men and women guard the district borders and refuse to allow any Meitei to pass through the national highway. As a result, any Meitei who wishes to leave Manipur must travel by air.

Similarly, the Meira Paibis, the Meitei mothers' organization, will not allow any Kuki to enter Imphal from the opposite direction. A Kuki residing in Churachandpur, 60 km south of Imphal, can only leave Manipur by air, traveling via Aizawl in Mizoram, a route that involves a challenging day’s drive on a difficult mountain road, which can take up to 17-20 hours. Imagine a pregnant woman using this route. There is a weekly helicopter service between Churachandpur and Aizawl, but it is not reliable. Moreover, how many ordinary people can afford these expensive modes of travel?

The fundamental right guaranteed to citizens under the Constitution, to move freely across the country, is clearly being violated. The conflict has taken a heavy toll on the lives of ordinary Meiteis and Kukis, many of whom are languishing in relief camps, facing an uncertain future.

One glaring issue is the failure of both the Manipur and Union governments to curb the violence. Both the Meitei and Kuki communities believe that if Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had wanted to control the violence, he could have done so within the first two days of the conflict, which began on May 3, 2023.

A nagging question remains: why has the government been reluctant to act, both then and now? The CM has raised concerns about narco-terrorism and targeted poppy cultivation by Kukis. However, what actions has the Union government taken to curb drug trafficking across the international border with Myanmar, or at major ports like Mundra in Gujarat and Pathankot in Punjab? If drug trafficking is stopped, poppy cultivation will naturally decline. Many within the establishment believed that Biren Singh would be replaced after the Lok Sabha elections, but this has not happened. Had this been a state governed by an opposition party, President's rule would likely have been imposed by now.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited nearly two dozen countries since the violence began on May 3 of last year, but he has yet to find time to visit Manipur. Aside from mentioning it once—under persistent pressure from the opposition—he has not felt the need to express his thoughts on Manipur. We hear that he is playing a role in promoting peace between Russia and Ukraine, and world leaders are requesting his intervention. He likely has advice for the leadership in Palestine and Israel as well. Yet, he has not shown the same concern for Manipur, despite the continuous pleas from its people.

This raises serious questions about his intentions and highlights the condescending attitude of ignoring the crisis in Manipur. The Prime Minister and his party colleagues often boast about curbing militancy in Jammu and Kashmir after the dilution of Article 370, but they seem indifferent to the militants in Manipur, who are armed with ten times the weaponry present in J&K, freely roaming the streets and endangering the lives of ordinary people.

To make matters worse, the security establishment is further confusing the situation. Meiteis have recently questioned the role of the Army, accusing them of failing to protect citizens, and have demanded their removal. Initially, the Security Advisor to Manipur, based on inputs from the Chief Minister's office, claimed that 900 trained Kuki militants with sophisticated arms had entered India, only to later retract the statement. Such statements, especially when the CM consistently raises concerns about immigration altering the state's demographics, only serve to instill fear. This raises doubts about the role of the security establishment.

Why did the Security Advisor rush to hold a press conference to share unverified information, only to withdraw it later and ask the public not to believe in rumors? Was the mention of Kuki militants intended to deflect attention from the role of the Army and justify their presence under the pretext of protecting people from cross-border militants? The government must be held accountable for its negligence in ensuring the safety of its citizens, which constitutes a violation of the constitutional right to life. The government in Manipur seems to have abdicated its responsibility for governance and become a party to the conflict.

To resolve the conflict between the two communities, a political process of dialogue is essential. Whether the Meiteis will be granted Scheduled Tribe status or the Kukis will be given a separate administration are questions that must be addressed by the Union government. However, for any dialogue to take place, peace must first be restored. Both sides need to end the violence.

The common Kukis and Meiteis have the right to live in peace, with justice and dignity, and their fundamental rights under the Constitution must be protected.

— Sandeep Pandey, General Secretary, Socialist Party (India)