Even today, most Indians feel deep pain when we think of Jinnah’s execution on Direct Action Day^[1] for a communal riot to show the colonisers that Hindus and Muslims can’t live together. British took Jinnah’s bait and partitioned India in the hope that peace would be there once partitioned. However, the rest is history with three wars, a new country, and never-ending frictions. And the numerous lives lost due to terrorist attacks sponsored by our unfortunate neighbour.

Just like the Great Culcutta Killing, Manipur has been thronged into communal violence as a result of a preplanned ‘peaceful’ rally. The nature of the ‘peaceful’ rally is not so peaceful in Kuki areas. Like the Direct Action Day started as a protest, the so-called ‘peaceful’ rally got protestors with full military style AK-47 wielding Kuki militants and the once peaceful state is now engulfed in flames^[2].

A rally once started against the Meitei’s demand for the scheduled tribe (ST) has now turned into demanding the so-called separate administration (SA), completely hijacking the initial issue. The rally started and finished peacefully in Naga-dominated areas but turned violent in Kuki areas with AK-47s widely viral video.

Kuki militants with AK47 in the so called ‘peaceful’ rally that led to Manipur violence in May 2023.

Considering the situation, the government of Manipur sought a year extension for sending the recommendation for Meitei’s ST demand, and the ST demand committee has accepted it^[3]. However, the hijacking demand of separate administration (SA) is stirring the violence in Manipur, and violence is popping up just as when people think some normalcy is returning.

If one looks at the news reports, the demand for Meitei’s ST is now completely side-lined, and the demand for SA has hijacked the conversation. Bharat should make sure every group demands their political demand in a nonviolent and legal way, not through communal violence and by hijacking others’ nonviolent demands. Meitei’s demand for ST has been going on for decades, and they never resorted to violence^[4].

They protested, submitted memorandums, and knocked on the court door when the government did not act on their demands. The central governments (both Congress and BJP) in New Delhi has been seeking Meiteis’s socio-economic survey and ethnographic report for inclusion in the ST list since 2013. Repeated communications have been sent seeking the same report to Manipur goverment on subsequent dates.

Central government seeking social economic status and ethnographic report from Manipur government in 2013.

With the recent confirmation of Kuki militants actively targeting civilians and state forces from the security advisor Kuldiep Singh, India should act decisively on these violent Kuki terrorists working with people’s democratic force (PDF) Myanmarese militants operating in Moreh, Manipur^[5]. During these attacks, the Assam Rifles were forced to retreat by these Kuki militants by threatening at gunpoint while Kuki militants were attacking and killing Manipur police CDOs^[6]. The new India should not tolerate such violent actions. Kuki militants engaged in killing innocent students whose body are yet to be found^[7]. NIA is still searching for 10 Kuki militants, some under SoO, for attacking civilians and burning houses^[8].

The suspension of operation (SoO) with these Kuki militants should be scrapped, and India should not tolerate targeting security forces, killing security personnel and civilians to meet their political demand for a separate administration. There are multiple reports of these Kuki militants in SoO violating ground rules. Northeast India has many insurgent groups with different political demands. Allowing these actions of retreating one Indian force while the terrorists are killing another Indian force doesn’t send a good signal, and adversaries are closely watching.

Kuki militants with sophisticated weapons threatening Assam Rifles while attacking Manipur Police CDOs

The Manipur government should send the recommendations the central government is seeking for inclusion of the Meitei in the ST list. Send the socio-economic status and ethnographic reports sought and let the authorities decide if Meitei should be listed in the ST list or not^[9]. Bharat and states should not delay issues that can be a ticking time bomb and should not wait for things to go out of control.

As a great nation, India should learn from our history and not heed these demands. Instead, Bharat should employ all her constitutionally available mechanisms to put an end to such sinister motives to instigate communal violence and make political demands. Entertaining such ideas will only encourage other groups to follow the steps and do the same. Manipur cannot act as a modern Bharat model for political demands based on ethnic violence. Even delaying in punishing these leaders behind communal violence sends all wrong signals to others. The new Bharat, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, should not succumb to these sinister, violent political demands but rather punish them for resorting to violence as political demands. There should not be a Direct Action Day 2.0 anywhere in Bharat, and the Union must ensure it.

Author: Puknig Warol (X: @PukningWarol)

References:

1. https://news.abplive.com/explainers/direct-action-day-16-august-1946-massive-communal-riots-in-kolkata-indian-national-congress-explainer-1623307
2. https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/video/manipur-protestors-seen-with-ak-47-weapons-amid-violence-hit-churachandpur-district-553012-2023-05-04
3. https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/meetei-st-demand-high-court-extends-consideration-period-for-one-year
4. https://www.stdcm.org/
5. https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/video/manipur-kuki-militants-taking-active-role-in-targeting-civilians-and-security-forces-says-security-advisor-kuldiep-singh-788648-2024-01-18
6. https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/armed-kuki-zo-militants-forced-assam-rifles-troopers-to-retreat-at-gunpoint/
7. https://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=1..021023.oct23
8. https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2024/1/17/By-Our-Staff-ReporterIMPHAL-Jan-16-The-NIA-Court-Imphal-West-has-issued-non-bailable-warrants-of-arrest-ag.html
9. https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/renewed-push-for-st-inclusion