Hindu, Christian Bhai Bhai...that's 'Meitei brotherhood' model :::: Can you douse forest fires by Baying at the moon ?

 

Hindu, Christian Bhai Bhai...that's 'Meitei brotherhood' model 

Can you douse forest fires by Baying at the moon ?

New Delhi 

"There is no development worth the name ...... The only new thing I have noticed is  the locking of houses early in the evening. If nothing else, it reflects the fear of being robbed. And it is a sad commentary on the law and order machinery". 

'Nagaland Page'

These words are not mine nor are they about Manipur or even Nagaland. Way back on March 25, 1996, noted columnist Kuldip Nayar had written so in a Dimapur-based newspaper and these remarks were for Tripura. He had also written that Tripura is one example (1996) where the tribesmen feel left out and they blame the people living in the plain. This passage can be copy-pasted in the context of Manipur today.

Moral of the story being while people debated about Bengali-Assamese differences or Bengali-Tripuri native tribe differences elsewhere, none really knew that equal intensity problems would arise in Manipur between Meitei plain dwellers and hilly tribesmen Kukis and other Zo community groups. Today we realise that in states such as Manipur people continued to wear chauvinism on their sleeves for decades despite the fact that natives from both sides were involved in the game.

Over the years the complexities in these challenges were never understood properly. 

In 2023 another issue has surfaced but it is also quite a time tested one. 

The Meitei Christian Church Council Manipur (MCCCM), a unified body representing the Meitei Churches, has asked the Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi of Kukis to remove 'all names of Meitei churches' from the list of  places of worship mentioned in the draft interlocutory petition to be filed before the Supreme Court.

The MTFD has already filed a writ petition (No 540/2023), according to reports, in the apex court

seeking 'intervention' into the attacks against the Kuki community by two armed organisations 

Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun.

In other words we have --- 'Hindu-Christian Bhai Bhai' spirit in the newfound 'Meitei brotherhood' tale. 

We say it is an old issue in the Indian context as the religion card of being Muslims could not keep

Pakistan united in 1971 when the Bengali-Muslim dominated East Pakistan decided to become

a free Bangladesh. That New Delhi helped formation of Bangladesh goes to its credit.

We may add another vital facet of the complexity involved in the entire game.

Could it be true that the drug lords and other 'vested interests' do not want N Biren Singh to continue

in office as his crackdown on poppy cultivation and the business of drug peddling have hit some 

people pretty hard.

Even in the past there were other lobbies involved. There were instances of

central forces possessing videos of "illegal entry from Myanmar" of a 'woman Manipur police officer'

and loading her official vehicle with stores and refusing to permit 'checking'.

In 2020, Maj Gen (Retd) Harsh Kakkar wrote in 'The Statesman' that - "Despite proof of misconduct of the police 

officer, IPS, IAS associations and some elements within the state continue to back the culprit and demand that a 

simple Jawan, performing his duty, is held responsible".

(The Statesman Jan 28th, 2020)

So, in 2023 yet again if there is a problem of coordination between the police force and the central forces

and especially Assam Rifles, there is a background too.

"In recent times, there has been an increase in differences between the army, IPS and IAS organizations 

on flimsy grounds, more from jealousy than logic. This displays a bias which should never occur as 

the army and its allied forces remain committed to national security, despite every form of internal 

political pressure," Gen Kakkar further wrote.

So what is important is the entire complexity of the issues involved first should be grasped properly.

It is hence unlikely to bring the conflicts to a satisfactory end. Even this year, sources say Meitei

cops allegedly 'conspired' with armed Meitei people and allowed them to direct their ire against

Kuki and Zo communities. At least there was one instance when a central force vehicle was parked

outside a police station to 'prevent' any communal polarisation games.

The 'unsatisfactory levels' are more dangerous and probably new and old phases of militancy have sprouted

at many places. The uninterrupted inflow of people from Myanmar through Moreh and other

entry points (also including unofficial channels) are also seen as a case of demographic invasion.

The Meiteis have been alleging that Kukis and other Zo communities have encouraged tribals

coming from Myanmar to settle in some of the non-men's lands  of hilly areas in Manipur.

The government apparatus cannot be expected to have a magic wand to resolve all issues.

Today it is the people themselves who have to look upon as to how and why at times the age-old

cordial relationship has come under stress and met with setbacks in both the forms --

temporary and also permanent. An eye for an eye is never the answer to any dispute but people

being emotional beings often forget this simple theory.

As you sow, so shall you reap -- sometimes others may reap of what you sow. 

ends