For the year 2025, the centre wants to give brought messages --
** Manipur ethnic conflicts should come to an end.
- Eastern Nagaland Public Organisation (ENPO) issue should be resolved.
- Tripura tribal issues will have to be 'tackled' on war footing
and ensure peace and harmony in Meghalaya by resolving matters related to HNLC.
Both Mizoram and Manipur will have new Governors. Do you have it in you is the general refrain for Gen V K Singh (Retd) who has been made in charge of Raj Bhawan in Aizawl. In Manipur, the task has been assigned to former Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla.
Last two years have been quite tumultuous in Manipur an also in Mizoram.
Importantly, the outcome in Mizoram elections in 2023 actually left a political lesson about Manipur and how the ethnic conflicts between Meiteis and Kukis ought to be seen.
PM Narendra Modi was to address a poll rally in Mamit, around 80 km from Mizoram capital Aizawl, on October 30, 2023. But he had to opt out from the programme.
The then Mizoram CM Zoramthanga (of MNF) -- apparently playing back to his own vote bank gallery - refused to share a stage with PM Modi during the campaign for assembly elections.
"The people of Mizoram are all Christians. When the people of Manipur (Meities) burned hundreds of churches in Manipur, they were (Mizos) totally against that kind of idea. To have sympathy with the BJP at this time will be a big minus point for my party," Zoramthanga told BBC News in an interview.
These came on the backdrop of Meitei-Kuki conflict in Manipur. The Kukis share ethnic brotherhood with Zo people in Mizoram. Yet the MNF was voted out.
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| Blogger |
Now one argument is Gen V K Singh, former army chief and also ex Union Minister, will be of great utility in Mizoram in view of Myanmar and Bangladesh volatility.
Mizoram has border with both countries. Border fencing and FMR issues are very critical in Mizoram as well. And the experience of the former army chief could come handy. Mizoram now has a ZPM government but the party is not NDA constiuent. Moreover Chief Minister Lalduhoma made news in September when he addressed a community gathering in the US and hinted about greater Zo land.
Did the Chief Minister make such a statement only after keeping his friends and well wishers in Delhi well informed? Otherwise, he should avid speaking on these lines as long as he is in constitutional position.
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| Mizo CM Lalduhoma |
Mandarins in Delhi do not talk much on the appointment of two new Governors.
One refrain has been quite candid yet guarded. Both the Governors have vast experience on issues of importance in both and respective states and will "closely monitor states’ performance in these areas".
There is another typical line with a mixed message. It depends how Chief Ministers (Laludohoma and N Biren Singh) leverage their experience to improve governance in the State.
Another northeast watcher says, "If the two chief ministers have ulterior interests they will be surely uncomfortable under these new Governors".
A large number of people were killed in Manipur in the clashes between Meiteis and Kukis and Zos; while scores of others have been injured.
Thousands have fled Manipur with over 8,000 people now taking shelter in Mizoram. Kukis share ethnic bonding with the Mizos and hence the demand for Greater Mizoram also rekindled.
One can say the state of Manipur as a whole and three segments of societies -- the Meiteis, the Kukis and Nagas - cannot be seen flirting dangerously with civil unrest. The northeastern region has seen enough of such clashes and enough of so-called ethnic 'cleansing'. Biharis, Bengali Hindus and Gorkhalis have been at the receiving end in Shillong in Meghalaya and people left for good.
Forget tribals-non tribals; episodes like the Reang-Mizo differences and Naga-Kuki issues of the 1990s were really unfortunate. It is time sanity prevails and the 'sincerity' displayed by all will be important achievements.
(Post Parliament session, the centre has acted rather quickly on north east. While the Tripura visit by Home Minster Amit Shah to attend the NEC plenary session was as per earlier programme, the appointments of new Governors in Mizoram and violence-hit Manipur is significant in more ways than one.)
There is a feeling Chief Ministers of both Manipur N Biren Singh and Mizoram Lalduhoma may not be quite pleased. But they will have to appreciate the centre's move.
Former Union Home Secretary and Amit Shah's trusted babu Ajay Kumar Bhalla has been appointed as new Governor of Manipur.
ends
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