On ‘Only Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can save Manipur’

Oinam Nabakishore Singh
While attending the celebration of Samvidhan Gaurav Abhiyan under the theme of “Our Constitution, Our Pride” at Thambal Sanglen, Nityaipat Chuthek, Imphal, Shri N Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur stated that only Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can save Manipur. On the face of it, this statement appears to be a hyperbole when one takes a peek into the situation in Manipur in the last twenty months. It is, indeed, akin to a political gimmick. It also appears to be coming too early and too soon, when the next Assembly election is about two years away from now. Nevertheless, politicking is part and parcel of politicians. One would have rather preferred the Chief Minister to focus on the work at hand-restoring peace and stability in the State first-before making a statement, which is aimed to appeal to the sentiments of Meitei electorate. People of Manipur have openly opposed any kind of politicking amid the ongoing conflict.
Political map of Manipur described by British authors in their books written in the 19th and early twentieth centuries has well-defined boundaries on all sides. Every Manipuri including those belonging to Kuki-Zo and Naga communities have been taught in schools and colleges or otherwise through elders and others that Manipur is bounded on the north by Nagaland, on the west by Assam, and on the east and south by Myanmar. Integrity of Manipur’s territory is sacrosanct for all the communities living in Manipur. It is only after the eruption of violence on the 3rd May, 2023 between Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities that there was division in the State due to internal displacement of some 60,000 people from their homes and resulting in physical separation of settlements of Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. Taking full advantage of the conflict and anger harbourbed by many victims of the conflict, ten MLAs belonging to Kuki-Zo community issued a press statement demanding Separate Administration for the areas inhabited by that community. This demand finds expression of the oft-repeated goal of Kuki National Organization and United People’s Front, two umbrella organizations which signed Suspension of Operation pact with the Central and State Governments in 2008.  Till eruption of violence on the 3rd May, 2023, neither Kuki-Zo MLAs nor the leaders of Kuki-Z0 armed militants under SoO pact openly demanded carving out a Kukiland out of Manipur. In fact, to nip such a demand in the bud, the preamble to the SoO pact stipulates that disintegration of Manipur’s territory is non-negotiable.
Nevertheless, such a demand by the Kuki-Zo militants is camouflaged in general expressions like political solution and settlement with the Government. Such generic and all- encompassing statements have been reiterated by leaders and spokespersons of KNO and other leaders in the course of negotiation with officials from the Union Government and media interaction. It is expected from the State Government led by Bharatiya Janata Party to rebut such demands as non-negotiable and unacceptable. It would be in the fitness of the situation for the State Cabinet of BJP Government to resolve to reject and oppose any demand to break-up Manipur and convey the same to both the Union Government and people of the State. A firm stand of the people and Government on such sensitive and significant topic should not be delayed.
On one hand the Kuki-Zo militants under Suspen- sion of Operation pact are hell-bent on breaking the State of Manipur to carve out a Union Territory for areas inhabited mostly by Kuki-Zo communities under the demand of Separate Administration for them. On the other hand, Meiteis and Nagas, who claim themselves to be indigenous people of Manipur are firmly against the demand of Separate Administration. The Union Government need to remember the incidents of June 18, 2001 in Imphal, when the ceasefire agreement between the Union Government and NSCN (IM) was extended without territorial limits. While such measures of enforcing ceasefire areas including the territory of Manipur might look well-meaning and innocuous, Meiteis in Manipur read into such measure as an attempt to disintegrate Manipur. Consequently, thousands of youths came out on the 18th June, 2001 and they rampaged on the streets of Imphal and set on fire Government properties inclu- ding Manipur Assembly building, Chief Minister’s office and quarters of MLAs resulting in death of 18 precious lives of protesters in efforts by the security to control the situation. Integrity of the State’s territory is very dear to the Meiteis. Even though many members of Kuki-Zo commu- nities migrated and settled in mostly southern part of the State from Chin State of Myanmar and Mizoram in the not very distant past, they are not considered to be indigenous people by Meteis. Such perception creates fault lines when animosity is fanned by vio- lence and demand for separation.
While playing politics is the name of the game for all politicians, it is necessary to be a little discreet when the situation demands to be so. Openly praising a political party, which is seen to have failed to restore peace and whose leadership is accused of looking the other way will have fewer endorsements. It is accepted that Bharatiya Janata Party is the biggest political party in the world with highest membership strength. It has proved time and again its popularity with the voters in India through its winning at many elections at Central and State levels. However, the results of the election to the two seats of Lok Sabha in Manipur, which was held last year have proved beyond doubt as to the sentiments of disappointment with the handling of the crisis in Manipur by the Central leadership of BJP. As such political rhetoric of Shri N Biren Singh will not go down well with people, who are well-aware of the actions or inactions by the ruling party. Allowing seven BJP MLAs belonging to Kuki-Zo community to remain out of Assembly Sessions without any permission, and demand on the Central Government for having a Separate Administration without any valid reason calls for disciplinary action from the leadership of BJP. Such defiance and indiscipline on the part of BJP MLAs are in public domain and inaction by BJP help its image to take a hit.
Shri N Biren Singh, Chief Minister, Manipur has an image of a patriot, which has been built up through his speeches. In the aftermath of June 18, 2001 uprising which led to the death 18 youths and an upsurge of Meitei Nationalism, he and a few others started a new political party under the name and style of “Democratic Revolutionary Peoples Party” (DRPP) and he contested election to State Assembly from Heingang Assembly Constituency.
Riding on the wave of anti-BJP sentiments on account of extension of ceasefire area to Manipur by the then BJP Government at the Centre, two candidates of DRPP including Shri N Biren Singh got elected to the 60 member Manipur Assembly. After the election, DRPP joined the Secular Progressive Front led by Indian National Congress. Just before the Lok Sabha Election in 2004, DRPP merged with Indian National Congress. Shri N Biren Singh became a prominent leader of Indian National Congress, and he held Cabinet posts in two terms from 2002 to 2007 and 2007 to 2012. He was not made a Minister in the term of 2012-2017. Being disgruntled, he joined BJP in 2016 and emerged to be Chief Minister from 2017 onwards.
It is a common sight to criticize the old party and praise the new party by many turncoats in Indian politics. Adaptation to the new ideology of the party is quite fast. Many Congressmen, who switched to BJP will have photos of Bharatmata and Deendayal Upadhyay, icons of RSS, decorating their living rooms. The moment they switch from BJP to other political party, all such photos will disappear from the walls in no time. Claims of political leaders will have to be assessed with circumspection. Vulnerable voters are quick to accept tall claims easily.
In the days of information technology, when a lot of information is shared through social media, it is easy to influence opinions of voters. It is advisable to check facts and reasons behind any statement before jumping to conclusions. All of us know that it is prudent to be careful in choosing our political party and representatives wisely if we are to enjoy good governance, peace and development.The writer is former Chief Secretary, Govt. of Manipur and a retired IAS officer.