Imphal: The Chief Minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh, in an interview to the Republic news media spoke about the situation in Manipur, which is witnessing ethnic conflicts. His interview has shed some light into the deeper aspects of the conflict that has refused to die out.
In his interview to the Republic, CM Biren Singh said, “This was never a fight between Meiteis and Kukis. It was a fight between the government and illegal immigrants of Myanmar. We tried to stop them but the condition flared up. The Meiteis and Kukis are inseparable.”
The news media reported that the CM said that the situation suddenly turned very communal. He said that the government was not against anybody and was only on the lookout for illegal immigrants.
He spoke about the Center’s quick response in bringing the situation under control. The CM said that Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, responded immediately and sent in paramilitary forces as well as the Army. The CM also said that he was surprised that the Home Minister came to Manipur and spent three days in the state and monitored every update.
Biren Singh said that time is needed to regain faith of the people but said that people are responding in a positive way. He told that Kuki brothers are also responding positively and stressed that at the end of the day we are family and that we do not need to fight.
He also called for the involvement of all stakeholders to bring normalcy in Manipur.
The ethnic conflict in Manipur began on May 3 and has resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people. The trigger for the conflict was a court order to the government to look into the demands of the Meitei people to be included in Scheduled Tribes. This was vehemently opposed by the Kukis and other tribals living in the hilly areas of the state.
Meitei people have been demanding to be be given tribal status, which they were enjoying before independence. As they do not have tribal status they cannot buy land in the hilly regions of the state which is dominated by the Kukis and other tribals. Meitei people, which constitute the huge majority of the population of the state is forced to live in the valley regions which is geographical less compared to the hilly areas.
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