Manipur Violence

'How Dare You Keep Silent on Manipur Violence, PM Modi? Silence is Complicity, You Should Resign' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsxm74bbSXA The Wire Jun 15, 2023

In one of the hardest hitting criticisms of Prime Minister Modi’s handling of the six week old crisis in Manipur, one of the Meitei community’s leading intellectuals has asked: “How dare you keep silent Mr. Prime Minister? … how can you keep silent? … the PM’s silence shows he’s complicit … why is he silent as the leader of the world’s largest democracy? … this doesn’t behove his position … take moral responsibility and resign yourself.”

Kukis losing faith in Modi and Shah But What Choice Do We Have? CM Biren Singh Should Be Removed’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj1_lJULOuY Jun 14, 2023 
In the first of a two-part series of interviews speaking to the women of Manipur about the crisis in their state and how it has affected the lives of their communities, the Convenor of the Kuki Women’s Forum has said her community is “losing faith in Modi and Shah” and cannot understand “why they persist with Biren Singh as Chief Minister” but pointedly added “what choice do we have but to keep hope in the Central government?” Dr. Mary Grace Zou repeatedly called for the removal of Biren Singh as Chief Minister of Manipur, accusing him of being anti-Kuki as well as misleading the Central government. Right at the end of the interview Dr. Zou said that the Kuki and Meitei are at “breaking point”.

Tribal communities feel that the BJP-led state government is participating in perilous communal politics by backing the Meiteis as ‘Hindus’ against the tribal people who are predominantly Christian.

https://thewire.in/communalism/bjps-communal-politics-has-deepened-historical-conflicts-in-manipur 

Manipur has erupted in violence. For over a month, the Meitei and Kuki people of the state have been wedged in a political conflict. Many have died, properties destroyed and hundreds injured. Some 37,450 people live in 272 grimy relief camps. More than 40 churches have been desecrated and torched across the state as the majority of the tribals are Christians.  

Congress MLA Alfred Kanngam Arthur exposed facts about disproportionate budget allocations between the hills and the valley. Between 2016 and 2021, from a budget allocation of Rs 22,000 crore in plan funds, the tribals received less than Rs 500 crore. There is also political and economic asymmetry as 20 MLAs represent the hill areas as opposed to 40 from the Valley. The state refutes allegations of large-scale corruption and diversion of funds designated for tribal welfare.  

Meiteis always held the upper hand in Manipur. Their demand to be recognised as Scheduled Tribes is dubious. Tribal communities see through the ploy as an attempt to acquire domination over the hill areas. The hills have a measure of autonomy because of their ST status. The Constitution and other laws safeguards tribal rights through special provisions for the hill areas of Manipur. Other laws prohibit tribal lands from being transferred to non-tribals.  

by Ranjan Solomon

09/06/2023

https://www.facebook.com/incsandesh/videos/650645263598700 People of Manipur boycotted Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister’s monthly radio programme, and stomped on transistor sets in marketplaces to protest against Narendra Modi’s silence on the carnage in the state. The violence in the state has been continuing since May 3, claiming at least 110 lives so far and displacing 60,000.  

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/manipur-violence-vacant-hill-villages-fired-on-by-armed-men-from-the-valley

Why Manipur is Burning https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/why-manipur-is-burning
Tussles over land, forests, drugs and poppy cultivation plus an influx of refugees from Myanmar lie at the heart of the latest flare-up