Political pundit Rajkumar Kalyanjit Singh observed that in view of the ethnic violence, the political parties have to consider the permutation-combination of the prevailing complex ethnic situation in the violence ravaged state…reports SUJIT CHAKRABORTY
As the Election Commission readies to conduct elections to the two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur, the political parties here are grappling with ethnic issues to decide their strategies because of the over 10-month long ethnic violence between the non-tribal Meitei and the tribal Kuki-Zomi communities.
Though Manipur has 34 different communities, the non-tribal Meitei and the tribal Kuki-Zomi and Naga people dominate the state’s politics and other electoral aspects.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the valley areas comprising six districts while the Nagas, Kuki-Zomi constitute a little over 40 per cent and reside in the remaining 10 mountainous districts.
Even as the Election Commission will issue the statutory notifications in two days (on March 20), the major political parties including the ruling BJP and the main opposition Congress are yet to declare their candidates.
Political pundit Rajkumar Kalyanjit Singh observed that in view of the ethnic violence, the political parties have to consider the permutation-combination of the prevailing complex ethnic situation in the violence ravaged state.
“Political parties in Manipur have to give balanced consideration in selecting candidates and formulating election related strategies,” Singh said.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education Rajkumar Ranjan Singh of the ruling BJP won from the Inner Manipur seat in 2019 while Naga People’s Front (NPF) leader Lorho S Pfoze represents the Outer Manipur constituency.
The BJP’s senior most state vice-president Nongthombam Nimbus Singh said the party has already formed a state level election management committee to take up the overall task for the polls.
“The committee has 32 different departments and each department will take the onus to smoothen the assigned tasks. Besides the committee, all members of the party numbering over four lakh have begun work at the booth level across the state,” said Nimbus Singh.
Once the party’s central election committee in New Delhi announces the names of the candidates for the state, the statewide campaign would be rolled out for which everything is in place, he pointed out.
On the other hand, the opposition Congress has a different say, as its state vice-president and spokesperson Kh Debabrata Singh said that their first demand was to defer the election taking into account the unceasing ethnic violence.
“Our request is to bring a solution first and polls next. Though election is mandatory, the climate for the polls at this juncture is not conducive,” he said, adding that as the poll dates have been announced, “we have to participate in it.”
The Election Commission has decided to hold the election in Inner Manipur constituency on April 19 while polling would be held in the Outer Manipur seat (reserved for the tribals) in two phases on April 19 and April 26.
Meanwhile, even as the Communist Party of India (CPI) is a partner in the 10 ‘like-minded’ parties’ alliance in Manipur led by the Congress, the Left party on Saturday nominated Laishram Sotinkumar as its candidate from the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency.
A CPI leader said that the party’s national executive meeting held on March 14 decided to field Sotinkumar, a former state council secretary, from the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat.
A veteran Left leader, Sotinkumar, who is currently serving as the General Secretary of the AITUC in Manipur, said that his party would extend full support to the Congress candidate in the Outer Manipur seat.
“We may reconsider contesting the Lok Sabha elections if normalcy and peace are not restored in the state,” the Left leader said.
Besides the Congress and the CPI, the other parties part of the alliance are the Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress, CPI-M, Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Shiv Sena-UBT, Janata Dal-United and the Nationalist Congress Party.
A Congress leader slammed the CPI for their unilateral announcement of the candidate and said that it will divide the anti-BJP opposition votes.
In Manipur, a total of 20,26,623 voters, including 10,46,706, women, are eligible to cast their votes in 2955 polling stations in the state’s two Lok Sabha seats.
The peace agreement signed with the UNLF by the Centre and the Manipur government marks the end of a six-decade-long armed movement….reports Asian Lite News
Terming it a historic move, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Manipur’s oldest valley-based armed group, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), on Wednesday signed a peace agreement to renounce violence and join the mainstream.
The agreement was signed in the national capital in the presence of Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and some members of the UNLF.
The peace agreement signed with the UNLF by the Centre and the Manipur government marks the end of a six-decade-long armed movement.
It is a landmark achievement in realising PM Narendra Modi’s vision of all-inclusive development and providing a better future to the youth in Northeast India, Amit Shah said in a post on ‘X’
Shah further said the relentless efforts of the Centre, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to establish permanent peace in the Northeast added a new chapter of fulfilment with the signing of the joint peace accord with the UNLF in the national capital on Thursday.
Shah took to his official handle on ‘X’ to share the news of the peace accord.
“A historic milestone achieved!!! Modi govt’s relentless efforts to establish permanent peace in the Northeast have added a new chapter of fulfilment as the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) signed a peace agreement today in New Delhi,” Shah posted from his X handle.
“UNLF, the oldest valley-based armed group of Manipur has agreed to renounce violence and join the mainstream. I welcome them to the democratic processes and wish them all the best in their journey on the path of peace and progress,” he added.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh also took to his official handle on ‘X’ to share the news of the peace accord.
“The oldest armed group of Manipur has chosen the path of peace, renouncing violence to join the mainstream and embrace democracy. The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has signed a peace agreement in New Delhi, marking a significant milestone in our relentless pursuit of permanent peace in the Northeast,” the Manipur Chief Minister posted from his X handle.
“The unwavering support and vision of Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi for a brighter and peaceful North-East has made this possible. May this collaborative effort contribute to a harmonious and prosperous future for Manipur and the entire region,” he added.
In a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs also said that the agreement is poised to usher in a new era of peace in the Northeast in general and Manipur in particular.
The MHA, in its statement, added that in line with the vision of Prime Minister Modi and under the guidance of the Union Home Minister, the Centre has signed agreements with several armed groups of the North East region since 2014 to end militancy and promote development.
Further, as per the statement, this is the first time a valley-based Manipuri armed group has agreed to return to the mainstream by abjuring violence and agreeing to honour the Constitution of India and the laws of the land.
“The agreement will not only bring an end to hostilities between UNLF and security forces, which have claimed precious lives on both sides over the last more than half a century but also provide an opportunity to address the longstanding concerns of the community,” the MHA added in its statement.
It also mentioned that the return of UNLF to the mainstream will also encourage other valley-based armed groups to participate in the peace process in due course.
The UNLF was formed in 1964 and has been operating both within and outside Indian Territory. The agreement is poised to give a fillip to usher in a new era of peace in the North East in general and Manipur in particular.
The agreement will not only bring an end to hostilities between UNLF and security forces, which have claimed precious lives on both sides over the last more than half a century but also provide an opportunity to address the longstanding concerns of the community.
It is hoped that the return of UNLF to the mainstream will also encourage other valley-based armed groups to participate in the peace process in due course.
A Peace Monitoring Committee (PMC) will be constituted to oversee the enforcement of the agreed ground rules. The development is likely to be a significant step in restoring peace and normalcy in the state. (ANI)
The violence first broke out in Manipuron May 3, which has led to the death of more than 150 people while thousands of people have been displaced…reports Asian Lite News
In his address to the nation on Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the country is with the people of Manipur and peace will be achieved in the violence-hit northeastern state via dialogue.
Speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Modi said that despite the continued violence, news of peace is coming continuously from the state.
He also reitereted that there was a need to find solutions to ensure long-lasting peace.
“Together, the state and the Central government are trying hard to solve those problems and will continue to do so,” he added.
The violence first broke out in Manipuron May 3, which has led to the death of more than 150 people while thousands of people have been displaced.
The opposition has consistently criticised the Prime Minister for his silence on Manipur and the recently concluded monsoon session of Parliament saw protests and disruptions from it on the issue, leading to the initiation of a no-confidence motion against the government.
Modi had said during his reply to the motion that the violence
Slamming the Prime Minister, the Congress leader said, “Manipur is burning for months, people are being killed and women raped and children are getting killed.”…reports Asian Lite News
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to burn Manipur and he is not trying to douse the fire.
He also said that the Indian Army can stop the violence in the northeastern state in two days.
His remarks came a day after the Prime Minister spoke on the no-confidence option in Lok Sabha and also spoke on Manipur.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, “Yesterday PM in Parliament spoke for over 2 hours and 13 minutes and in last, for 2 minutes, he spoke on Manipur.”
Slamming the Prime Minister, the Congress leader said, “Manipur is burning for months, people are being killed and women raped and children are getting killed.”
Targeting the Prime Minister, Rahul Gandhi, who is a Lok Sanha MP from Kerala’s Wayanad said: “Prime Minister Modi was speaking in Lok Sabha while laughing. It does not suit him. The Prime Minister of India should not have made the joke. I was not the subject, not the Congress but was Manipur. And what is happening in Manopuur and why it is not being stopped was the subject.”
Rahul Gandhi said that he has been in politics for last 19 years and visited all states whether during floods, tsunami, or violence.
“What I have seen in Manipur, have not seen such thing in last 19 years,” the Congress leader said.
Referring to his statement in Lok Sabha on no-confidence when he said that Bharat Mata has been murdered in Manipur, Rahul Gandhi said, “I said that Prime Minister Modi killed India in Manipur and these are not hollow words.”
He also said that when he reached Manipur and had to visit the people was asked to remove the Kuki or Meitei people from my security detail.
He said, “Today a state has been murdered. The state has been divided. Thus I said BJP has murdered India in Manipur.”
“When Modiji was laughing I thought how a Prime Minister can say like this. He cannot go there. He cannot go, but he should speak on Manipur. Indian Army can stop the violence in Manipur in 2 days.”
Rahul Gandhi alleged, “The Prime Minister wants to burn Manipur and does not want to douse the fire.”
On Thursday, Modi in his over two hours long speech he gave an assurance that peace will prevail in Manipur and that it will march forward on the path of development.
The BJP-ruled state government in Manipur has been trying to resolve the situation prevailing there for the past six years and the efforts will continue in the future too, Modi said.
“The entire country and the House is with Manipur. We will together ensure peace there,” Modi said.
However he said that all efforts to ensure peace in the state should be free of politics.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the discussion on the Motion of No-confidence in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, on Thursday, August 10, 2023. (Photo: IANS/SANSAD TV)
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to people for showing faith in his government and said that the BJP-led NDA will return to power with a record majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls…reports Asian Lite News
The Opposition parties’ no-confidence motion was defeated in the Lok Sabha today with Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching a scathing attack on the political motive behind the move as he promised the people of Manipur that the Centre and state governments would work to restore peace in the state at the earliest.
“The central and state governments are working day and night to punish the accused and bring back peace to the state. I want to reassure the people of Manipur that the entire country stands with them,” PM Modi said.
Lambasting the opposition parties, PM Modi recalled the no-confidence motion moved before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, saying such attempts have proved to be lucky for the BJP in the past. The NDA and BJP will break all records in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he remarked.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to people for showing faith in his government and said that the BJP-led NDA will return to power with a record majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suspended from LS
The leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, was suspended from the House on Thursday for making objectionable comments on the Prime Minister in his speech during the no-confidence motion discussion. His suspension will be in place till the report of the privileges committee comes.
The Lower House through voice vote passed the resolution to suspend Chowdhury, after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi informed the House that the Congress leader has often made baseless allegations and remarks against the leaders from the ruling party, be it Prime Minister Narendra Modi or other Cabinet ministers.
During his speech, Chowdhury compared the Prime Minister to Nirav Modi as well as mythical blind king Dhritarashtra, while alluding to sexual violence against women in Manipur.
His remarks led to a furore among the treasury benches and infuriated BJP MP Virendra Singh, who even tried to charge towards Chowdhury, but was stopped by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, Joshi and Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Modi was present in the House when the Congress leader has made these comments.
Veerendra Singh later apologised for his behaviour to Speaker Om Birla, saying that he was angered by the comments made against his leader (Prime Minister).
Joshi, while seeking Chowdhury’s suspension, said that he “deliberately” disturbs whenever senior leaders from the ruling party speak.
Chowdhury, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said, always makes baseless charges and never apologises, so a resolution should be moved for his suspension.
His case was then referred to the Parliamentary privileges committee.
In an interview with Abhish K. Bose, eminent journalist BRP Bhaskar speaks about a number of issues including the national media reporting of the troubles in Manipur; the lack of proactive action from the government side.
Ninety one year old BRP Bhaskar is perhaps the senior most functioning Journalist living in the country. Mr Bhaskar who worked in senior editorial positions at The Hindu, The Patriot, Deccan Herald, The Statesman, United News of India, was also a columnist with the Gulf Today Newspaper published from Sharjah. A voice of sanity and clarity, Mr Bhaskar is an active presence in the socio cultural scene of Kerala and an activist who comes down against human rights violations. He was also an editorial advisor to The Asianet News, and handled Media Watch programme for the channel. An eminent scholar on the socio political scenario of India Mr Bhaskar is the recipient of the Swadheshabhimani – Kesari media award given by the Kerala government for comprehensive contributions to Journalism.
In an interview with Abhish K. Bose, he discusses a number of issues including the national media reporting of the troubles in Manipur; the lack of proactive action from the government side; the Kerala government registering case against a TV channel reporter; and against online media groups; a comparison with the intolerance against media and political dissent by the Modi government and the LDF government of Kerala.
Excerpts from the interview
Abhish K. Bose: The new coalition of the twenty six opposition parties named INDIA has recently formed in Bangalore in a bid to challenge the BJP led NDA in the general elections 2024. What do you think will be the prospects of this alliance? Can the alliance break the strangle hold of BJP in the frays?
BRP Bhaskar : I think It is too early to come to any conclusion regarding the prospects of the new formation. Because we have to see how it functions over a fairly long period. The election is still some time away. How this grouping functions can only be assessed realistically after we have seen its workings over a fairly long period to the extent of cohesion in the alliance and the extent of leadership in the alliance. Regardless of what ever they may say in their documents the impression the public is gathering regarding their stand on the political, economic and social issues should have to be taken into account before we can reach any informed conclusion on its prospects.
Abhish K. Bose: Though Prime minister Narendra Modi has broken his silence over the atrocities against the minority tribal communities in Manipur can we take the PMs condemnation of the incidents in Manipur in good sense with little assurance from the government comes in the form of proactive actions to mitigate the crisis. Do you think that under the BJP rule in centre the religious and ethnic minorities of the country will be safe?
BRP Bhaskar : The BJP must realistically accept that there are doubts in people’s mind about its position with regard to religious or any other minorities. This is because they have a majoritarian kind of philosophy on which this party has been built. In the course of their first few decades of working, people have formed certain opinion about the political positions of this party. All this has to be taken into consideration to come to a conclusion on this matter.
Abhish K. Bose: Do you think that the BJP government at the centre has effectively intervened to mitigate the crisis ongoing in Manipur?
BRP Bhaskar : The government actually faces the criticism for being silent on Manipur. The Prime Minister was keeping silence on Manipur. There were reports circulated that the ruling party was also involved in some of the troubles taking place there. This is a very sensitive area, one is a border area, the other is a tribal area where different types of tribes are living and this area has a history of disquiet. Judging by the reports I have seen, I was not able to come to a firm conclusion about the involvement of various political forces in the scene. The reporting of the media is very weak. There are certain regulations with regard to the coverage of sensitive issues of this kind. The media has to be watchful, and should make sure that the situation there should not be worse. By and large the kind of coverage I saw in the media I prefer I will not reach any conclusion. Because of that I do not make any firm categorical statement.
Abhish K. Bose: You said about the functioning of the media is weak in the reporting of the events ….
BRP Bhaskar : I was not speaking about the Manipur media. Manipur has been going through a crisis for weeks now. What is the kind of information we are getting in the national media? I was pointing to the weakness of the national media coverage. I have no access to Manipur media. I don’t know what the Manipur media is doing. I depend on the national media for getting the information. Let me be honest on this, there are problems. The media has to be careful and there are standing guidelines which prohibits the media from identifying groups which are involved in the conflicts. At this moment I am more interested in knowing how authorities are handling things more than how the media is covering things. The Union Home Minister visited the place. But despite his visit the trouble went on. His intervention seemed ineffective. In many parts of our country there are situations of different kinds. There are tensions which can broke out into conflicts. So the first duty of the authorities is to handle the system. They have the intelligence machinery. So when the trouble is brewing they have the means of knowing it and they should nip it in the bud. If they are not able to do it things eventually break out into a confrontation. Then of course the authorities have to act speedily. I also suspect whether the governments interventions was effective because the trouble in Manipur went on for several weeks. The governments intervention is with an announcement especially when it is a law and order situation. I can’t reach any conclusion that they are not acting or the security agencies are not acting. But it is clear that they have not succeeded. So it was primary for them to oversee what steps they have took and why it was not effective so far, and take necessary steps to bring peace to that area.
Abhish K. Bose: The reigning political dispensation spends a lot of money by way of supporting pro-BJP publications, promoting the dissemination of stories profitable to the BJP. Is there any way the practice of journalism can be made once again free and fair as conducive to the health of Indian democracy?
BRP Bhaskar : Various people who have been monitoring the state of the Indian media have published a recent annual report that the situation is getting progressively worse. There are some global agencies which monitor the state of the media all over the world and there recent report shows that the condition has been deteriorating from year to year. So this is a matter of concern to us. This is a matter which should actually be a concern to the government also. Because international agencies are monitoring and publishing reports and their reports of the deteriorating situation brings a bad name to the government. So I think the government should also be watchful to the development and take steps that are in their power to bring back the media freedom. This will improve their own image.
Abhish K. Bose: Many among the political leaders of the country are exuding the hope that Kerala the sole state which is ruled by the left should carry forward the mantle of leadership in the fight against BJP and it’s fascism. However, the Kerala government led by the left is also displaying intolerance against political dissent. In what all ways this government is different from the previous governments of the state?
BRP Bhaskar : There is a kind of contradiction in the way the question is framed. You start with the thing that Kerala is the only left state and then you say that they have to play a proactive role. See one must be very practical about this thing. The party which is in power in only one state can effectively make a difference at the national level? The one state party has a very limited role to play at the national level.
Abhish K. Bose: I was referring about the ideology of the left which is a global ideology rather than its ruling presence in a particular state?
BRP Bhaskar : As a global ideology it has collapsed all over the world and where it survived like in China where they practice is not Marxism. The second part of your question is very broad and is not very easy to answer. The governments have their own logic and their own dynamics. It can be very different from what they profess. What they profess need not be what they practice. Today if you look at the totality of the Indian situation, you have a large number of parties in power in different states. There are several national parties, several regional parties and then you know the so called national parties their hold is very limited. So no party today is in a position to say that we have reach across the nation. At the time of independence Congress is the only party which has a national reach. But that is not the situation today. Many of the parties are regional parties and some of them are confined to their state. In the last couple of decades regional parties are also a presence at the national level. But they come to play only at the election time. After the election time they play a very small role in the coalition. There are so many parties in the NDA led by the BJP. To what extend they have an impact over the BJP government. The situation is extremely amorphous and now everybody is preparing for an election and as far as I can see the chances of the next elections bringing material difference is too dismal. Regarding the criticism of the government intolerance I would like to make it clear that when we compare two governments one is the UDF government led by the Congress party and the second the present government led by the LDF.
If we examine the political parties which leads these two alliances there is a big difference in the approach of the two political parties leading the two fronts. There is an expressed different in the approaches of the UDF government led by the Congress and the LDF government led by CPM. In these two parties the differences of the two major parties in their approach to the democratic system is apparent. The Left is led by the fundamental belief that what is happening in the name of democracy is not proper. However, they are not openly saying it now. The Left front is able to capture power now through elections. However, they reiterate on several occasions regarding their belief on democracy that what is ongoing now is not democracy. That fundamental differences will be reflected in their approaches also. They believe that the right kind of democracy happens as a result of revolution.What they perceive as democracy in India and outside are some games inside capitalism. However, they are not elucidating it now since they are able to win elections through the present mode. In the initial period they said that they did not believe in this kind of democracy, however, they wanted to give political lessons to the public thereby participating in this democracy. However, there occurred a change in their approach once they came to know that they were able to win elections through this mode. Every government’s which is in power are supposed to function on the guidelines of the constitution. The Left parties are also participating in the democratic processes by taking into account that limitations.
Abhish K. Bose: There are criticism from a section that the present government is perpetuating such a larger than life halo thereby dismissing all manner of dissent and resistance from the Kerala society. The pandemonium for the K Rail project is one such instance cited by them?
BRP Bhaskar : I don’t think one should draw any wild conclusion from the K Rail project. When the K Rail project came there were people who favoured it, people who opposed it. It is not possible to go forward with any major railway projects by any state governments unless the central government is with you. Because the Railways are the central subject. The criticism you refered here is binding for all governments. The difference between professing one thing and practicing. There is a near unanimity among all parties functioning in democracy regarding their speech and what they practice once they come to power. The difference when what they say while in opposition and when they come to power is apparent. In a place such as Kerala there are no political party which have the belief that they can come to power on their own. The parties bypassed this limitation through the coalition politics. When Communist party comes to power in the state initially in the state, there were only individuals in coalition formed by them and no parties in the coalition. Later on they formed coalition. No party in the state has the confidence to capture power by their strength. Two parties leading the two coalition are big parties that is Congress and CPM. This will be explicit if we evaluate the election results of the state closely.
Abhish K. Bose: It also needs a unanimous support from the people of the state for the projects implementation…
BRP Bhaskar : I agree. In Kerala, we don’t know where these projects are coming from. There should be a way from which the projects should emerge. A project should emerge through the proper way. We have a long terms of grievances about the railway. The Railways should do a systematic study of the states traffic needs. The state government should set up a body to study Kerala’s traffic needs and evolve an integrated policy regarding what should be the role of the Railways in the state. I think you should probably think of the development of the waterways aimed at the development of Kerala tourism.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan addressing the Loka Kerala Sabha regional summit in London
Abhish K. Bose: The peculiarity that no party can single handedly win elections may strengthen democracy to the extent that there are less chances for authoritarianism ideally. But is that the ground situation?
BRP Bhaskar. : The tendency to behave with authoritarianism is included in the approach of the concerned parties the circumstances may compel them to do so. But ideally in democracies we consider those parties who respects democratic values to be fit to function in the democracies. But it is a fact that those who participate in democracy need not believe in democracy. When such people comes to power there surfaces a contradiction. Democracy is a belief system that should be assimilated. When the first participated elections in Kerala, the Communist party said that they are not believing in democracy but they are making use of it. Theoretically they have deviated from the stand they have adopted initially.
Abhish K. Bose: The media institutions of the state are facing immense pressure in discharging their functions as the watch dog of the society and to be the perpetual critic of the government and the system. It seems they are imbued by intimidation in the wake of the police registering cases against journalists often reminiscing days of emergency. The case against a TV Channel reporter while reporting an allegation while on live is a testimony. As a journalist you worked at the time of the emergency. How far the current scenario is qualitatively different from that of the period of emergency? Or is it an exaggeration to equate it with the emergency period?
BRP Bhaskar : Emergency has become a kind of benchmark whenever we discusses the interference with the media. We must make a difference. Because the emergency was a measure which is provided for in our constitution. The constitution specifies on what grounds the emergency can be declared. So the 1975 was an unjustified emergency, because it was not intended to meet any of those purposes mentioned in the constitution. Now the situation is different. Emergency cannot be used for those purposes. But, attempts to interfere with the media is what is going on. Emergency and all happened at a particular situation. Now, various methods are used to suppress critical media and some highhanded actions were taken in Kerala against some online media. It is totally illegal.
Abhish K. Bose: You are referring to the actions taken against Marunadan Malayali ?
BRP Bhaskar : Marunadan Malayali, various other things are happening like that. If there are any objections against Marunadan Malayali they should be prosecuted. But what did they do? The police raided the residences of the employees of Marunadan Malayali from one end of India to the other harassing their family. What is the purpose? So the intention was not to deal with the illegal actions of Marunadan Malayali but to intimidate the online publication. Is that how things happen in a democratic society. So these are very dangerous tendencies which are raising their ugly hood in Kerala.
Abhish K. Bose: What are your views on the silence personified by the Kerala civil society over such breaches of the government and the administration. Are they too scared by the menacing posture of the state?
BRP Bhaskar : What we have to realise is that civil society in Kerala is very weak. Most of the organizations or movements which should be part of the civil society are actually under the control of some political party or some caste organisations or religious organizations. So they are not really part of the civil society, they have come under the control of some parties or non political organisations. When we realise this we can understand that a real civil society is not easy to find in Kerala. Civil society organisations should work for certain principles, but that is not happening here. We have parties or groups which are representing sectarian interests. But we must also realise that in the past twenty five or thirty years you will find several programs of the successive governments were opposed by the people and the governments were forced not to go ahead with it. So many projects have to be abandoned due to the opposition from the public. On the other hand the public has the ability to mobilise and defeat several government schemes which they consider not for the good of the state, despite the weaknesses of the civil society. But they don’t have the ability to pressurise the government to take up schemes which they think will benefit the society.
Abhish K. Bose: Is it due to the reason that the intelligentsia of the state, a section of the writers, journalists, and other opinion makers got groomed by the leftist intellectual circles help, which hinders them to defy the government?
BRP Bhaskar : There was a time when left was having tremendous influence over the sections you were talking about the so called intellectuals or whatever it is. But I don’t think it is so today. That scenario has been overcome by the Congress by organizing it’s own groups, they also have their bodies and their own intellectuals. So we don’t have that kind of a situation now. But there is one problem in Kerala that the bulk of our society is under the influence of a political or a caste or a religious organization. That is one of our problems. A society remains divided on certain lines then there is no room for any discussion or anything.
Abhish K. Bose: Though the state government and the LDF are strident critics of the high handedness of the BJP led government at the centre, vis a vis media and other opponents, the state government is executing the same when it comes to the expression of intolerance. What do you think are differences of intolerance of the LDF government compared to the BJP government at the centre?
BRP Bhaskar : There is absolutely no point in comparing these two governments in this manner. The problem is between the party in power or the government in power in one place and the media which report news which the people in power did not like. The whole issue can be seen in terms of one single statement. When there is a conflict between power and truth this kind of situation develops. Because power tries to suppress truth.
Abhish K. Bose: Regardless of ideology you mean?
BRP Bhaskar : When it is inconvenient to them power will act against truth. That is the situation.
Amidst these controversies, on May 3rd, the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur organized a rally called the “Tribal Unity Rally” in Churachandpur, approximately 65 kilometers away from Imphal…reports Asian Lite News
Massive violence has been plaguing Manipur, resulting in a devastating human tragedy. Over 150 casualties have been reported and numerous individuals have been forced to evacuate. The horrifying incidents that have unfolded during this period are an affront to humanity. The state government is facing serious allegations amidst this chaos. Additionally, various concerns have been raised about the root causes of the widespread violence in Manipur. This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the incident in Manipur.
When this controversy began?
There has been an ongoing demand to include the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category. The Meitei Association had filed a petition in the Manipur High Court.The petition stated that prior to India’s merger in 1949, the Meitei community had been recognized as a Scheduled Tribe, but this recognition was withdrawn later. They argued that it is important to grant tribal status to the Meitei community in order to preserve their ancestors’ land, traditions, culture, and language. On April 14, 2023, the Manipur High Court delivered its verdict on this matter, directing the state government to submit its response within four weeks.
The recent decision of the High Court has heated up Manipur’s atmosphere. The Naga and Kuki tribes have started opposing it. According to Tribal groups in Manipur, Meitei community holds significant economic and political dominance. They believe that if Meiteis are granted tribal status, it will result in the reduction of job opportunities for them. Additionally, they worry that Meiteis will start purchasing land in the hills, pushing the other tribal groups to the margins. Not only this, but these tribal groups also mention that the language of the Meitei community is included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, and they also receive benefits under the Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) categories.
Amidst these controversies, on May 3rd, the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur organized a rally called the “Tribal Unity Rally” in Churachandpur, approximately 65 kilometers away from Imphal. Thousands of people participated in this rally. However, clashes broke out between tribal and other groups during the event. Consequently, this violence spread to other areas as well.
Opium cultivation behind Manipur violence?
Opium cultivation has been a significant issue in Manipur for many years. Several media reports have also mentioned opium cultivation is related to the violence in Manipur. These media reports suggest that the state government has been taking strict action against opium cultivation, which is mainly associated with the Kuki community.
According to a report from the BBC,” the underlying tensions in Manipur stem from a complex interplay of various factors, one of which is a recent crackdown on drugs in recent years. The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP)-led state government, under Chief Minister N Biren Singh who is a Meitei, launched a controversial campaign targeting poppy farming. Since 2017, his government claims to have destroyed more than 18,600 acres of poppy farms, the majority of them in Kuki-inhabited areas. (Manipur has long battled a drug-addiction crisis and is among four north-eastern Indian states bordering Myanmar, The world’s second-largest opium producer).
In addition to that, several media reports have cited opium cultivation as major reason behind violence in Manipur.
Fake and Misleading News over Manipur Violence
Social media is also being used to spread a variety of false and misleading information about the violence in Manipur. The DFRAC team has fact-checked this fake news. Here are some fact-checks-
Fact-Check 1
A video is shared on Social media, claiming that a separate team of naked women has formed to protest against the police in Manipur.
Viral video is not associated with Manipur. In fact, this video was taken during the civic elections in Uttar Pradesh, when supporters of independent candidate Sonu Kinnar created a ruckus alleging rigging in the municipal council elections in Chandauli district. The fact check can be read by clicking on the link below
Fact-Check 2
Users on Social media are claiming that the 300-year-old has been turned into ashes. When the video was fact-checked, it was discovered that it wasn’t shot in Manipur but rather during the unrest in France.
Fact-Check 3
A video is getting viral on social media, showing a woman being assaulted. Users claim that this Christian woman was murdered for shouting ‘Out Modi’. A user wrote: “Warning, The world needs to know about Hindu terror. Whilst #modi travels the world and is worshiped by the Hindu despora. Back in India. Muslims, Sikhs and Christians are being systematically killed by the state. This poor Christian was murdered for simply calling out modi!”
Fact
The incident shown in the viral video is dated February 2022 and is from Myanmar, not India. That is why the assertion made by users of social media is misleading.
‘Anti-India disinformation Campaign’
Pakistani users have tweeted extensively, giving a religious angle to the Manipur incident. These users have portrayed Manipur’s ethnic struggle as a persecution of Christians (Kuki-Naga) by Hindus (Meiteis) and have spread this narrative as a form of Hindu atrocities. However, several media reports have already revealed that this is not a religious violence but a struggle for land and rights. Pakistani users have cleverly linked the Manipur violence with the Sikh opposition riots of 1984. They have even shared a collage of two photos to support their claim. You can see the collage here.
Collage’s Fact-check
One of the most interesting things here is that the photo being circulated in Pakistan’s viral collage, claiming to depict the 1984 Sikh genocide, is actually not from India at all. This photo is from the violence against Tamil-speakers that occurred in Sri Lanka in 1983, which is also known as the civil war. It is also referred to as “Black July.”
Manipur search trend on Google in Pakistan:
“Manipur Violence” is a Google Trend that shows the popularity of this keyword in Pakistan. It started on July 18th and was searched the most. Additionally, Manipur was searched in Pakistan on other days as well. Apart from this, Islamabad had the highest searches for Manipur in Pakistan. Following that, Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had the highest number of searches
The Manipur violence has been the most searched topic in India. Following that, significant numbers of searches on the same keyword were made from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Singapore as well.
On the other hand, tweets of some Pakistani users running anti-India campaign are being given here-
“A user named Mudassar (@MudassarJatta) from Pakistan wrote: ” The torture that happened to Sikh women in 1984 by the goons of the Indian government and justice has not been given even after the passage of so many years. And today again Hindu goons are doing it to Christian women’s in Manipur.where is democracy?”
“A user named Proud Pakistani (@S_kamikhan) wrote on Twitter: ” Christian women parraded by Hindus in #manipur , that’s extremely shameful and disgusting.”
“A user named Inaya Ajaz (@InayaAjaz), a resident of Lahore, Pakistan, wrote: ” The torture that happened to Sikh women in 1984 by the goons of the Indian government and justice has not been given even after the passage of so many years. And today again Hindu goons are doing it to Christian women’s in Manipur.where is democracy?”
“A user named M Sufyan Basra (@msufyanbasra), an employee of the School Education Department of Pakistan’s Punjab province, wrote: ” The atrocities inflicted upon Sikh women in 1984 by Hindu goons, along with the absence of justice for so many years, remain deeply concerning. Sadly, even today, similar acts are being perpetrated against Christian women in Manipur by Hindu goons”.
An attempt to link Manipur violence with religion:
Users on social media have shared posts about the ethnic violence in Manipur, labeling it as a religious angle. They are attempting to depict the violence as being motivated by religious intolerance or hatred, by mentioning the religious identity of the victims as Christian women. The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) has shared this incident, highlighting its religious aspect.
Ashok Swain has shared a post regarding Manipur. His tweet refers to the situation in Manipur, using a communal tone. In this tweet, he reveals the long-standing violence, the high number of casualties (mostly attributed to the Christian community), multiple church burnings, and the displacement of a significant number of people belonging to a particular religious group. Additionally, the tweet mentions the objectification and sexual harassment of Naga women by the Kuki community.
The tweet by a user named Abu Hafsa gives a communal angle to the Manipur incident by portraying it as two sides Kuki (Christian) and Meitei (Hindu).
The tweet by the South Asia Index reflects a communal angle behind the Manipur violence. It seems to reveals the religious tension prevalent in the region. The tweet highlights the ethnic conflict as a struggle between two religious communities – Christians and Hindus. Additionally, the tweet also attempts to showcase the state government’s support for the Meitei community.
Abdullah Alamadi’s tweet clearly highlights on the communal sentiment focused on Manipur and the negative portrayal of Hindus. It magnifies the communal angle and strengthens the negative image of Hindus. It compares the story of Bilquis Bano, a case of communal violence, which strengthens the religious angle even more. Finally, the mention of the “minority threat” emphasizes the danger faced by minority communities. Overall, the paragraph includes elements that incite religious and communal sentiments.
In a reported incident mentioned by The Washington Post, a possible communal angle has been highlighted. The report describes the depiction of ethnic violence in Manipur, which initially started with a dispute involving Christian Kukis and predominantly Hindu Meitei individuals. The report suggests that the conflict has taken on a communal dimension, as it involves various ethnic groups (Christian Kukis and Hindu Meiteis) related to land rights and government jobs.
The violence and clashes resulted in the death of over 130 people and the formation of armed militias by warring factions. The victims of the attack mentioned in the video have been identified as members of the Kuki-Zomi community, an indigenous organization in Manipur. The fact that the violence is happening on a basis of ethnicity suggests the communal aspect of the conflict.
The same incident has been underlined in an article by Al Jazeera (@AJEnglish) with clear sectarian tones. This incident has been described as a deadly communal riot between the Hindu Meitei and Christian Kuki-Zomi tribes.
Picture Credits : Pallav Paliwal
According to a report from Aaj Tak, Violence in Manipur is being characterized as a “battle for control.” This is justified by the claim that only 10% of the Meitei group, which represents around 55% of the state’s population, can reside in the Plain areas. Meanwhile, the Kuki and Naga communities, accounting for 40% of the population, are predominantly located in the hilly areas, which constitute 90% of the state. As per Manipur’s laws, only tribals can settle in the hilly regions. However, the Meiteis, being non-tribals, are unable to settle in these areas.
A report by BBC has also revealed that the dispute is associated with land rights. According to the report, ” This is the reason for the dispute, because the Meitei people cannot buy land in the Kuki areas and now they also want the status of a tribe. Obviously, the dispute is associated with the issue of rights on the land. The majority of the population of 2.8 million have lived in the Meitei Valley, while the Kuki population is settled in four hill districts”.
Moreover, several media reports have listed the causes of the violence alongside issues such as tribal status and land rights.
Land rights and tribal status are the main causes of the violence in Manipur. There is no religious conflict involved in this violence, as mentioned in any media reports. Moreover, there is no indication of any religious motivations for the violence.
However, there are various fake and misleading news circulating on social media regarding Manipur. Additionally, Pakistan and Western media are referring to this incident as a dispute between the Christian and Hindu communities. Pakistani users are also trying to use this incident to underline anti-Sikh violence in India, creating an atmosphere that suggests that minorities are not safe in India. (by: Nisar Ahmed Siddiqui)
The protests were in part a response to a horrific video last week, showing two young tribal women being paraded naked while being molested by a group of men in the violence-hit state…reports Asian Lite News
Indian-Americans and allies held protests in US states of California, New Jersey, and Massachusetts throughout the weekend to condemn the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, which has left hundreds of people dead and thousands displaced.
The protests were in part a response to a horrific video last week, showing two young tribal women being paraded naked while being molested by a group of men in the violence-hit state.
In California, Indian-Americans and allies gathered on the steps of Oakland City Hall for a protest organised by several advocacy groups, including the North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA), Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), and Ambedkar King Study Circle.
“They chased us out of our homes. They burned our homes, our properties. They looted, they killed, they raped, they immolated, they beheaded, they’ve left us broken and everything we own reduced to ashes,” said Niang Hangzo, founding member of NAMTA.
“This is the butchery being done to the Kuki-Zomi… How long will the world stay silent? We want the House to bring this issue and discuss it like the EU (Parliament) has done.” T
he European Parliament had adopted a resolution earlier this month, calling on Indian authorities to take “all necessary” measures to stop the violence in Manipur and protect religious minorities, especially Christians. India condemned the resolution, calling it an “interference” in its internal affairs.
In Iselin, New Jersey, IAMC organized a protest and candlelight vigil attended by people from diverse faith and ethnic backgrounds, including members of local churches, NAMTA, and the National Association of Asian Indian Christians.
“If those two women could be dragged and paraded, it could happen to any other woman, no matter what religion,” said Pastor Prem Kankanala, representing the United Telugu Christ Church.
“Let us be united and raise our voices to protect women and to protect minorities,” he added.
In Boston, Massachusetts, several Indian-Americans and allies came together to express solidarity with the victims and urging President Joe Biden’s administration to intervene and call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to halt the escalating violence in Manipur.
Following the protests, a senior Biden administration official said on Tuesday that the US is “shocked and horrified by the video of an extreme attack on two women in Manipur”.
“We convey our profound sympathies to the survivors of this act of gender-based violence and support the Indian Government’s efforts to seek justice for them,” Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson of the State Department, said.
In his first public comments on the situation in Manipur, Prime Minister Modi last week expressed pain and anger over the incident, saying it has shamed 140 crore Indians and asserted that the guilty will not be spared, even as opposition Congress said the remarks came “too little, too late”.
The violence erupted on May 3 after the Kuki-Zomi community protested against the Meitei demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The majority Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mostly in the hill districts.
Urging the Central and State governments to take action on the ongoing violence in Manipur, Chief Minister Zoramthanga said that silence is not an answer…reports Asian Lite News
Terming Manipur as a sensitive issue, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that Home Minister Amit Shah will reply during the discussion in detail in the Parliament.
“We have made it clear, respected Raj Singh and other leaders have also clarified that we are ready to discuss the issue in both houses. Manipur is a sensitive subject, a human-related subject of great sensitivity, so we want to discuss and answer the discussion in detail. There is a lot of issues that also have to be discussed. As I have said, we are ready to discuss Manipur”, Pralhad Joshi said in Lok Sabha. Speaking at the House after Opposition raised the Manipur viral video incident, Minister Joshi said that government is ready to discuss the Manipur issue adding that it was already clarified by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders.
Joshi also said that the Speaker will decide on the date to discuss the Manipur issue in the House.
“We have made it clear that we are ready to discuss Manipur in both Houses. Manipur is a sensitive issue. Home Minister Amit Shah will reply to the discussion in detail. Let the Speaker decide the date of discussion”, Pralhad Joshi said.
He further added that there is a lot of issues which also need to be discussed.
“We have made it clear, respected Raj Singh and other leaders have also clarified that we are ready to discuss the issue in both houses. Manipur is a sensitive subject, a human-related subject of great sensitivity, so we want to discuss and answer the discussion in detail. There is a lot of issues that also have to be discussed. As I have said, we are ready to discuss Manipur”, he added.
Earlier, urging the Central and State governments to take action on the ongoing violence in Manipur, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said that silence is not an answer.
The Chief Minister said that it is the duty and responsibility of the Central and State governments to look for immediate ways for peace restoration.
Notably, a video of two women being paraded naked by a group of men went viral a day earlier which triggered fresh controversy. However, the incident happened in May this year.
Manipur police made its first arrest in connection with the incident, as per Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh. “Last night at around 1.30 am, we arrested the main culprit,” the Manipur chief minister told ANI.
“Every man and every human being will condemn this act,” Singh said adding that they will seek for the perpetrators to get punishment “to the maximum possible extent.”
“Really shocked when I saw the video and after seeing it I inquired about the incident it happened on 4 May…but this video leaked after 40 days. I asked for mass combing ops…and last night itself we arrested one man involved,” the Manipur chief minister said.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Thursday condemned the Manipur incident where two women being paraded naked on a road by a group of men went viral on social media.
“NCW condemns the Manipur incident. Taking suo moto cognizance. The DGP Manipur has been asked to promptly take appropriate action”, the NCW tweeted.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this morning spoke to the media ahead of the beginning of the monsoon session of parliament. He said that he is pained over the incident and said the incident is “shameful for any civil society.”
“No accused will be spared, we will never forgive those who are behind this,” the Prime Minister said.
Opposition parties give notice in Parliament
Opposition parties have given notice to discuss the ongoing violence in Manipur in both Houses of the Parliament on Friday, the second day of the Monsoon Session.
While in the Lok Sabha the Opposition parties have given notice under Rule 193, in the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition have given notice under Rule 176 and Rule 267. The government, in principle, has agreed to discuss the matter in Lok Sabha under Rule 193 and in Rajya Sabha under Rule 176.
It may be noted that Rule 193 in Lok Sabha and Rule 176 in Rajya Sabha refers to short discussion. Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha refers to suspension of business of the day.
Day one of the monsoon session of the Parliament witnessed unruly scenes amid slogneering by the opposition over Manipur violence as joint opposition sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on the issue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took note of the video and said, “I am filled with pain and the incident is shameful for any civil society.” “No accused will be spared, we will never forgive those who are behind this,” he said.
Opposition parties gave notices to discuss the Manipur issue under Rule 193 in Lok Sabha. While, in Rajya Sabha, the Opposition gave notice under Rule 176 and Rule 267 to discuss the matter.
Under Rule 267, Rajya Sabha MPs can give a written notice to suspend all listed business and discuss an issue of importance the country is facing. (ANI)
The whole country is worried about the continuing violence and tension in Manipur, and the latest incident of indecency towards women is especially embarrassing for the BJP and its government…reports Asian Lite News
The opposition leaders in Uttar Pradesh have hit out at the BJP over the Manipur violence.Mayawati, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president, asked if the BJP would still continue to give protection to the Manipur chief minister.
“The whole country is worried about the continuing violence and tension in Manipur, and the latest incident of indecency towards women is especially embarrassing for the BJP and its government. Although the law-and-order situation in the State has deteriorated for a long time, will the BJP still continue to give protection to such a Chief Minister?”She said that there should be debate on the issue in Parliament and the government should ensure stern punishment to the accused.
“Even the Supreme Court has taken cognisance of the incident,” she said.Akhilesh Yadav, the president of the Samajwadi Party (SP), wrote onTwitter, “In Manipur, civilisation has been torn apart with Indian culture reaching its worst point. The hate politics of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the vote politics of the BJP are responsible for the situation in Manipur.
The family members of our sisters and daughters will now definitely think once before even looking towards the BJP.”The SP national general secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav said, “Only INDIA can save Manipur”, in a reference to the newly formed Opposition block of 26 like-minded parties called as the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance.
BJP Slams Congress Over Handling of Manipur Incident
The BJP on Thursday hit out at the Congress after both houses of the Parliament were adjourned for the day following the Opposition’s ruckus over the Manipur incident wherein two women were paraded naked and allegedly gang-raped, and questioned the party’s approach on such a “sensitive matter”.
“The Manipur incident is unfortunate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned it and assured strict action (against the culprits). We wanted discussion on this in both Houses of Parliament as it is a serious matter for us. It is a matter of great pain that the Congress and Opposition were arguing on the rules under which discussion would take place,” senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a press conference at the party headquarters here.
New Delhi: Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad addresses the media at BJP HQ, in New Delhi, Thursday, July 20, 2023. (Photo: IANS/Twitter/@BJP4India)
He further said: “We would like to ask the Congress party as to what your approach is to sensitive issues? You want a genuine discussion or you want your ego to be massaged on the rules under which discussion would take place?”
Strongly condemning the gruesome incident, the Minister said: “What happened in Manipur is shameful. We condemn it. Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has told that one of the accused has been arrested. Stringent action is being initiated.”
“However, the incident which happened in May, video of it surfaced on the social media a day before the beginning of the session. It raises questions about the timing part,” the former Union Minister said.
He reiterated that the Narendra Modi-led Central government is fully committed to the safety and security of women.
The senior BJP leader added: “The Congress party has made a pattern on the beginning of every session of Parliament to bring a issue and not allow discussion and then run away from discussion.”
