"Manipur violence is due to international power play", says Lt Gen Abhay Krishna (Retd) -- ex- Eastern Command chief

"Hidden game being played by inimical forces is much bigger" 

"Manipur violence is due to international power play", says Lt Gen Abhay (retd)

It may be erroneous to diagnose the one-and-half year old series of conflicts in Manipur as 'ethnic conflict', says former Eastern Command chief Lt Gen Abhay Krishna (Retd).

  

"What we are seeing in Manipur is 5th Generation warfare being carried out against India. It is not simply an ethnic conflict as many believe" General Abhay Krishna said

"Manipur today is caught in the crossfire of a larger international power play taking place in the region especially with regards to the civil war in our neighbouring Myanmar," he said.

Nagaland Page

"I can say from my own experience that the common people in Manipur,be it Meitie, Kuki,Hmar, Paite, Pangal, Nagas ....heart of heart they don’t support the violence at all which is going on and has been created by certain groups who are supported and funded by certain inimical powers.

Will these groups who claim to fight on their behalf ever compensate them for the losses the common masses have suffered due to the violence and instability? No way," he maintained.

Answering a question, he said, "What we are seeing in Manipur is 5th Generation warfare being carried out against India. It is not simply an ethnic conflict as many believe. 

The North East people have a rich cultural legacy and ethos. One has to reach out and connect with them on ground to understand them better". 

He further maintained, "They (the locals) are very kind hearted and loving and once you manage to connect with them at ground level, then they look at you very affectionately". 

What should be the roadmap and focus in the immediate future, he said: 

"We need to focus very deeply on how to win hearts and mind of the common mass, reach out to these groups who are perpetuating a violent atmosphere and talk to them, 

but at some time also be prepared to hit these groups hard who are involved in violence and not willing to reconcile despite being given an opportunity to talk and resolve their issues". 

However, he added: "It’s not easy and so simple to give a solution in a few sentences because the hidden game being played by inimical forces is much bigger than what is seen on the ground".

ends