One Year of Violence in Manipur: BJP is not only responsible for the failure to contain violence, but also for creating the conflict

One Year of Violence in Manipur: BJP is not only responsible for the failure to contain violence, but also responsible for creating the conflict

One year ago, on 3 May 2023, ethnic violence broke out in Manipur between the tribal minority (Kuki-Zo) and non-tribal majority (Meitei) communities. Over the following months, the conflict escalated, while the state and Union Government kept the pretence of normalcy. Meanwhile, rather than trying to defuse the tension, the Chief Minister N Biren Singh, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, tried to portray the Kuki-Zo community as terrorists and infiltrators.

On 19 July, a video went viral which showed two Kuki women being assaulted and paraded naked by a mob. The incident had taken place on 4 May. Yet the police took no action for 75 days, until the Supreme Court took cognizance of the matter after a public outcry. According to CBI chargesheet, the women had sought refuge in a police station, yet they were driven away and handed to the mob. Moreover, even the National Commission of Women had been apprised of the case on 12 June, yet they took no action. The incident sparked outrage across the nation. Meanwhile, CM Biren Singh shamelessly tried to downplay the horrific incident, claiming that hundreds of such incidents have taken place.

Over the following months, the situation turned into a civil war. Let alone visiting the state and trying to assuage the people, Prime Minister refused to even speak about the crisis. When he was forced to do so, he trivialized the crisis by senselessly comparing it to the opposition-ruled states.

Meanwhile, journalists, fact-finding teams, and even opposition leaders were prevented by the state government from reporting about the crisis. When a team of National Federation of Indian Women reported on the grim situation in the relief camps and held CM responsible for the conflict, the state government charged them “under penal provisions for conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India, assaulting President/Governor with the intent of compelling them to exercise a power, making statements prejudicial to national integration, defamation and promoting enmity among two groups and inciting riots.” The state police registered an FIR against Editor's Guild of India for their report. The Government also prevented Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from meeting the people. The prolonged internet shutdown further prevented any news from getting out.

The situation in Manipur is so tense, that even police officers are being kidnapped. The Government has often been in conflict with the Army.

A report by Assam Rifles directly blamed the Chief Minister for the inflaming the conflict. Even the BJP legislators from the state have held the CM responsible. Yet, the double-engine government of BJP has refused to remove the CM, and allowed the violence to go on.

Yet, despite the failure to contain the violence, or the hatemongering which escalated the violence, or the police and the NCW not acting on the complaints of sexual violence, or the suppression of news, or the Prime Minister not visiting the state even once, the most shocking and disdainful incident was Narendra Modi's claim that the timely intervention by the Centre saved the state.

Manipur displays Narendra Modi’s idea of India | The Caravan

Manipur’s BJP CM inflamed conflict: Assam Rifles report on India violence | Al Jazeera

Timely intervention by Centre saved Manipur: PM Modi | Times of India