Imphal: CPI (M) Manipur State Secretary, Kshetrimayum Santa, has firmly refuted the ongoing propaganda suggesting that there is a Christian-Hindu conflict taking place in Manipur. He clarified that although churches were targeted in the recent attacks, religion was not the cause of the conflict. Instead, he highlighted that the clashes were between tribal communities, and the issue should not be associated with any particular religion.
The CPI (M) Manipur State Secretary himself has taken a stance against the misleading propaganda being instigated by some members within the party, who are trying to present the situation as a religious conflict. Despite the party’s efforts to portray the conflict as Christian-Hindu-related, Santa’s rejection has caused a backlash against the party’s narrative.
Even the United Opposition MPs who visited Manipur repeated similar allegations, but Santa’s statement has challenged these claims. The Cardinal and the Archbishop of Imphal have also spoken against attempts to depict the Manipur riots as religious riots. The Archbishop, Dominic Lumon, suspected that some individuals deliberately mixed religion into the issue. He emphasised that the Kuki-Meiti tribal conflict should not be seen as an attack on Christians, and many churches in Imphal remain unharmed.
Cardinal Oswald Gracious had earlier clarified that the situation in Manipur is not a Hindu-Christian conflict but rather a dispute between two tribes. While Christians and Hindus were affected by the conflict, it was not for religious reasons. In a video message, Cardinal Gracious called for unity and peace, urging everyone to work together for harmony.
Overall, Santa’s strong rejection of the propaganda, along with the support from religious leaders, has shed light on the true nature of the conflict in Manipur, dispelling any attempts to polarise it on religious grounds.
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