Manipur crisis: Lay off, RK Imo tells EU

IMPHAL, Jul 16: India is the largest democracy in the world and no other country has any right to interfere in its internal affairs, said MLA RK Imo advising the European Union to leave Manipur's crisis alone and solve European problems.
There is no religious extremism in Manipur. In fact, the present conflict is between illegal armed groups and foreign militia who are waging war against the State and Central security forces, said RK Imo.
His reaction came after the European Parliament discussed Manipur crisis.
The Government has advised the European Parliament to stick to their internal matters. They can perhaps use their time to solve European problems of Russia-Ukraine war or the recent riots in France, RK Imo said in a statement.
The European Parliament should have only appeal for peace and normalcy and not discuss the matter and issues without understanding the actual facts. It shouldn't have given the present crisis a religious tinge., said RK Imo.
It is more of an ethnic conflict because of the involvement of two ethnic groups in the State. In fact the second phase is more of a conflict between illegal armed groups and foreign militias who are waging war against the State & Central security forces. Those discussing the issue should be aware of the facts that there is no religious extremism in the State, said RK Imo.
"Hearing one side of the conflict and expressing it is a religious conflict against a particular religion by interfering in the internal matter of a country like India is perhaps the most unfortunate debate in the history of Europe. They should be aware of the fact that there are Christians as well as Muslims amongst the Meitei community, and religious structures of both communities have been destroyed during those few days of the conflict," he said.
While dismissing the European Parliament's observation that “accounts of partisan involvement by security forces in the killings have increased distrust in the authorities”, RK Imo said Europe is not well versed with the laws of the country and the prevailing issues in the State (Manipur).
He asked the European Parliament how and where the arms and ammunition are coming from and who are supplying these to the illegal armed groups and foreign militia. How are the illegal armed groups and militia getting their ammunition replenished over the last few months while fighting the security forces?
The violence certainly seems to be politically motivated, but not for promoting Hindu majoritarian activities as stated in the debate. It is more to do with the "Government action against illegal migrants across the State, action against poppy cultivation and war against drugs, and eviction from reserved forest land."
These Government measures affected a certain section of the community more than others, but they were to protect all the indigenous people of the State, he said.
RK Imo asserted that the ST issue that has been claimed as the main reason behind the conflict was just a cover-up used by a particular section. The State Government had not even given a comment on the High Court's order.
"Would this conflict happen had the organisation just appealed to the Supreme Court against the verdict rather than organising the so-called peace rally which wasn't peaceful at all?" asked RK Imo.
Some sections have been presenting the wrong narratives of the conflict to foreign media and pleading for foreign interventions in India's internal matters. The identities of those writing and pleading to foreign countries are easy to guess. They are painting the whole country in a bad light while trying to get some brownie points against one community in Manipur, said RK Imo.
No appeal or foreign discussion is going to bring peace in Manipur. The sole responsibility belongs to the Centre and the State Government for which we all have to strive together, he said.
While the Centre takes measures all sections of the society should come together and make best efforts to bring normalcy in the State, said RK Imo urging for sanity to prevail and stop all forms of violence.