Why is PM not meeting Manipur leaders ? This is the core question
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It was nearly a year ago, August 15, 2023 to be precise, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the entire Nation is with Manipur and added with good effect that the Centre and the State Government are making every effort to find a solution and will continue to do so. This reference to Manipur has also been stressed by Chief Minister N Biren to neutralise the criticisms that the Prime Minister has not opened his mouth on the more than 14 months turmoil in Manipur. Back in August last year the Prime Minister had asserted that situation was improving and this same line was maintained when he spoke on the Manipur issue in the Rajya Sabha just some time back. In short the claim of the Chief Minister can be understood in the backdrop of the growing criticism against the perceived indifference of the Prime Minister and obviously to blunt the impact that Rahul Gandhi has had amongst the people with his third visit to the State just some days back. The ‘impact’ of Rahul Gandhi should also be understood in the backdrop of the fact that the Congress candidate whipped the BJP candidate in the recently held Lok Sabha election in the Inner Parliamentary Constituency while in the Outer, the Congress bested the NPF candidate, backed by the BJP, convincingly. The position of the Chief Minister may be understood in the context of what has been happening and in the face of the growing criticism against the failure of the BJP Government, both at Delhi and at Imphal, to resolve the issue which has been dragging on for more than 14 months now. That Manipur continues to burn would be an understatement and far from violence subsiding another CRPF personnel has been shot dead by Kuki militants at Jiribam while two policemen have been injured. Imphal would do well to acknowledge that something, somewhere is horribly wrong and come face to face with the fact that even after more than 14 months of the violence erupting, the Prime Minister is yet to grant an audience to anyone from Manipur to discuss the issue. Why has this not been acknowledged or at least taken cognizance of and accordingly act ? Or should Manipur be satisfied with just the statement that the Union Home Minister is briefing the Prime Minister on all important developments in the State ? It is up to the people to respond to this reality and for the good of the saffron party in Manipur, it would be best if the present leadership at Imphal acknowledges the reality and let the people know that they do know the reality. Such a gesture will go a long way in kindling a kind of trust and confidence in the political leadership of Manipur.
On the three occasions that the Prime Minister referred to the violence in Manipur, one concerned a particular episode, the nude parade of two young girls by a mob in the early days of the violence. The other two statements on Manipur were off the mark by a long way for Manipur is nowhere near normal. These are facts which cannot be dismissed and even as this is being written, one CRPF personnel has lost his life, becoming yet another figure in the list of those killed in the line of duty. It is unacceptable that even after more than 14 months of the violence erupting, New Delhi and Imphal still seem to be groping in the dark or the reports sent to Delhi from here are deliberately or otherwise being fudged to give a totally wrong impression. Has the fact that no Meitei can dare cross Kangpokpi to go by road either to Dimapur or Guwahati blown over the heads of those who have been crowing about situation normalising here ? Or that no Kuki will dare to return to Imphal or any of the other valley districts ? These are the bare facts and it is astounding that Delhi does not seem to have taken cognizance of this reality. This is where one would like to question what steps have been taken to bring the two warring sides to the negotiating table ? Delhi and Imphal are still fumbling and groping in the dark and the least these two entities can do is not to spin out yarns to suit their own narratives. Humility is perhaps what the doctor would recommend for Imphal and Delhi.
On the three occasions that the Prime Minister referred to the violence in Manipur, one concerned a particular episode, the nude parade of two young girls by a mob in the early days of the violence. The other two statements on Manipur were off the mark by a long way for Manipur is nowhere near normal. These are facts which cannot be dismissed and even as this is being written, one CRPF personnel has lost his life, becoming yet another figure in the list of those killed in the line of duty. It is unacceptable that even after more than 14 months of the violence erupting, New Delhi and Imphal still seem to be groping in the dark or the reports sent to Delhi from here are deliberately or otherwise being fudged to give a totally wrong impression. Has the fact that no Meitei can dare cross Kangpokpi to go by road either to Dimapur or Guwahati blown over the heads of those who have been crowing about situation normalising here ? Or that no Kuki will dare to return to Imphal or any of the other valley districts ? These are the bare facts and it is astounding that Delhi does not seem to have taken cognizance of this reality. This is where one would like to question what steps have been taken to bring the two warring sides to the negotiating table ? Delhi and Imphal are still fumbling and groping in the dark and the least these two entities can do is not to spin out yarns to suit their own narratives. Humility is perhaps what the doctor would recommend for Imphal and Delhi.