Even as the violent conflict that erupted on May 3, 2023 with Kuki-Zomi militants attacking Meiteis in Manipur’s Churachandpur district and its bordering areas of Bishnupur district continues to keep the Meiteis and Pangals under siege within Imphal Valley while the Kuki-Zomis do not feel secure to come down to the State capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed that timely intervention of the Government of India and efforts made the State Government improved the situation in Manipur.
Moreover, some national media and local media on April 9, 2024 also reported to the extent–“Timely intervention by Centre saved Manipur: PM Modi”. Local media did mention that Prime Minister Modi has spoken about Manipur crisis.
But the pertinent questions are – Has Prime Minister Narendra Modi really spoken out about Manipur crisis? Had the Government of India (GOI) and Government of Manipur really intervened in the crisis timely? Is the situation in Manipur really improved or just respite of violence by the Kuki-Zomis due to the 18th Parliamentary Election of India to be held in Manipur on April 19 and 26?
In fact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself did not voluntarily speak out about Manipur crisis either in a media briefing or press conference or through a press statement. PM Modi did answer in 134 words a question in an exclusive interview with The Assam Tribune, published on April 8 and 9 in two parts of a series.
“We believe that it is our collective responsibility to deal with the situation sensitively. I have already spoken about this in the Parliament. We’ve dedicated our best resources and administrative machinery to resolving the conflict. Because of the timely intervention of the Government of India and efforts made by the Government of Manipur, there has been a marked improvement in the situation of the State. Home Minister Amit Shah stayed in Manipur while the conflict was at its peak, holding 15-plus meetings with various stakeholders to help resolve the conflict. The Central Government has been consistently extending its support, as required by the State Government. The process of relief and rehabilitation is ongoing. Remedial measures undertaken include a financial package for the relief and rehabilitation of people living in shelter camps in the State.”
PM Modi replied this in response to – How do you rate the situation in Manipur and what steps are being proposed to ensure ethnic harmony in the state? You were criticized by the opposition for the Manipur issue. Would you like to comment on that?
What Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he has already spoken about the issue in the Parliament was also only when the opposition INDIA Bloc led by Congress took a no-confidence motion to make him speak on the floor of the house.
While replying to the no-confidence motion moved by Congress MP from Assam Gaurav Gogoi on August 8, 2023 against Narendra Modi government, in his speech that lasted around 2 hours 20 mins, Modi spoke about the violence hit-state of Manipur for less than ten minutes, which the world had witnessed on live telecast of the parliament session on August 10, 2023.
That too, after giving his extensive speech for more than one hour and 40 minutes devoted to attacking the Congress, previous UPA governments, the opposition INDIA alliance and the developmental initiatives and achievements brought to the Northeast during the nine years rule of the Modi government.
Despite the opposition saying that the goal of the no-confidence motion was to get the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the issue of the ongng violence in Manipur inside parliament, there was no mention of Manipur even after speaking for 1 hour and 40 minutes amid loud protests from the opposition. This made the opposition members lost their patience.
The world had witnessed that opposition members, who had urged PM Modi to address the three-month-long violence during the entire parliamentary session, staged a walkout when, after 1 hour and 40 minutes of the speech, there was no mention of Manipur.
As opposition MPs started walking out of the House, Prime Minister Modi began mentioning Manipur for the first time at about 6:42 pm in his extensive speech which began at 5.00 pm.
His brief comments on Manipur violence focussed on the High Court order asking Government of Manipur to consider recommendation of Meitei for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Government of India as if it was the root of the ongoing violent conflict.
He also gave more emphasis on the violence against women saying to the women, daughters and sisters of Manipur that the country is with them.
Prior to this no-confidence motion, PM Modi had maintained silence on the issue and only spoke on July 20, 2023 –79 days after the violence started – outside the Parliament House, after a video went viral on social media the day before – showing two Kuki women being paraded naked in a village in Kangpokpi district on May 4, 2024.
“I want to assure the nation, no guilty will be spared. Action will be taken according to the law. What happened to the daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven,” PM Modi said in his remarks before the start of the monsoon session of parliament.
“As I stand next to this temple of democracy, my heart is filled with pain and anger. The Manipur incident is shameful for any civilised nation. The entire country has been shamed,” PM Modi continued.
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2023 addressing to the citizens from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 77th Independence Day of India, and reiterating what he said in his reply to the opposition INDIA Alliance’s no-confidence motion, appealed for peace in violent-hit Manipur saying that people across the country stand with the people of the Northeastern State.
“The whole country stands with the people of Manipur. Peace is the only way to resolve all disputes. The Centre and the Manipur government are making every effort to ensure that peace returns to the State at the earliest,” PM Modi said.
“Since the last couple of days, reports of peace have been coming in. India is with Manipur. The peace needs to continue and solutions will only be found through peace,” Modi said in his speech at the Red Fort on the 77th Independence Day.
Modi said again, the women of Manipur have suffered much. “The nation is with Manipur,” he reiterated.
Even as the violent conflict has entered 12th month now – 347 days on April 13, 2024, the gun fight between the Kuki-Zomi militants and Meitei village defence volunteers at the foothills still continue. The violent conflict has claimed more than 221 lives of which 198 were civilians including 20 women and 8 children, and 61,387 persons have been internally displaced.
Moreover, Kuki-Zomi militants are not disarmed yet while the arms and ammunitions looted from the State Security armouries are yet to be recovered completely.
There is no situation where Meiteis and Pangals can go beyond Sekmai along Imphal-Dimapur National Highway No. 2; Keithelmanbi along Imphal-Jiribam National Highway No. 37, Phougakchao Ikhai along Imphal-Tipaimukh-Aizawl National Highway No. 150, Pallel along Imphal-Moreh stretch of Asian Highway-1.
Despite the claims made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation in Manipur, the Meiteis and Pangals are not allowed to go beyond Imphal valley, no public transport runs through the National Highways connecting with the rest of the country for almost one year. Thousands of people are left jobless. The season for ploughing has already arrived but the farmers cannot go to their paddyfields at the foothills. Manipur Continues to remain in the grip of violent conflict and Imphal Valley Remains under siege.
Senior Editor: Imphal Review of Arts and Politics
