Manipur in Pain
By Poonam I Kaushish
“Police was there with the mob which attacked our village. They picked us from near home and gave us to the mob.” cried the 19-year old and her 40-year old Kuki women who were stripped naked, groped and paraded in public before being gang raped 4 May in Kangpokpi, Manipur. A strife-torn State with a population of mere 2.5 million which has been on the boil for over three months due to ethnic conflict which has cleaved it into two, between valley and hills. Wherein, life hangs by an address, surname, dialect, community and tribe.
Shockingly, an FIR of the 4th May incident was registered on 18 May, in June case was transferred to the concerned police station and the video went viral on 19 July —— And like always all hell broke loose with a horrified nation expressing outrage and pain demanding action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime.
Appallingly, its uniformed guardians surrendered their weapons as police armouries were looted and politicians houses burned by communal criminals as a cynical State Government dozed with one eye open after the majority community Meitei’s (mainly Hindus who are 52% of the State’s population) ST status demand was granted legitimacy by Manipur’s High Court.
This posed a threat to the Kukis, mainly tribal Christians, Nagas and Muslims who feel this would infringe upon their rights and have no faith in Singh who is a Meitei and believe he is allowing armed Meitei groups to target and kill them.
A tough, angry and deeply disturbed Supreme Court asked the Government, “What have you done for 14 days? You cannot excuse what happened in Manipur by saying that this and this happened elsewhere. Using women as instruments for perpetrating violence is simply unacceptable…. We are dealing with something which is of unprecedented nature — violence in a situation of communal and sectarian strife. Time is running out for us ….”
Bluntly, a rap on the knuckles for Prime Minister Modi, of course, without naming him, who expressed anguish and shame outside Parliament 20 July, 79 days later, in generic terms without singling out Manipur and other BJP-ruled States while naming Congress-ruled Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. “The entire country has been shamed … guilty will not be spared…What happened to Manipur daughters can never be forgiven… my heart is filled with pain and anger.”
Only then did BJP’s Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh like Rip Van Winkle arise from his slumber and order action. Earlier he dismissed any hostility blaming “terrorists and infiltrators for the violence, referring to them as Kukis from Myanmar.” Sic. Meiteis’ too accuse him for not doing enough to safeguard lives and properties. Why did it take him over two months to even promise an investigation and take action?
For over 70 days Manipuris, MPs and citizens across the country are waiting for Modi to break his silence on this verdant State which symbolised our unity in diversity, turning it into a valley of death, claimed 180 lives and counting, women dragged out of their homes, displaced thousands (over 30% of the population), bundled them in deplorable unsanitary make-shift relief camps and cut-off their livelihood, who live as refugees in their own country. While women hide in jungles to avoid two-legged beasts possessed by lust and hate who prowl for prey.
Post Home Minister Shah’s visit, 21 MPs from 16 Parties forming Opposition’s INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) visited Manipur to “understand peoples’ pain and express Parliament’s concern about their plight.” Really? Or was it just to score political points against the Government?
Even as they admonish Modi for visiting poll-bound States like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan where he speaks against Opposition leaders and inaugurates the new Pragati Maidan complex Delhi, but is mum on Manipuris grief, it begs a question. What action have they undertaken to elevate the sufferings besides mouthing platitudes and indulging in photo-ops. What if there had been no video?
Scandalously, one fails to comprehend why Modi who is so vociferous and vocal about issues continues to avoid making his Government’s stand on the issues involved in Parliament even as Manipur cries for help and our polity watches in horror. His silence is counterproductive. Less said the better of his Party and Ministers who duck when faced by Opposition leaders and will only open their mouths after he does, instead go into moral overdrive to babble banalities and fume against external interference in India’s internal affairs.
Worse, the Government is in defensive mode. Its leaders, including the Chief Minister, organises protests against the video, not against the barbaric act. True, West Bengal’s panchayat elections saw bloodshed and violence under police nose with many ruling TMC workers complicit, Rajasthan and other States too are engulfed by rapes ad nauseum but to cite them on par with Manipur is an insult to women in the video, State, all ethnicities who are vulnerable in a conflict.
It not only cheapens the discourse, doesn’t behove a Government or Party that just months ago was packaging its electoral success in North East as a testament to its inclusive politics. It allows Modi’s enemies to castigate him for inaction.
A former Army Chief Naravane has added to confusion. Asserting, foreign interference in Manipur could not be ruled out and is “definitely there.” Stressing, Chinese has been aiding various insurgent groups for years. Alongside, a flourishing drug trade across borders.
What is the roadmap ahead? None. The peace committee set-up by the Union Government has failed with both Kuki and Meitei groups saying they will not participate. Till date, the Government has not clarified what else or how it plans to address the situation. All seem to be clueless.
Clearly, the Government’s absence along-with an ineffective police making the strategic mistake of keeping silent for over two months have made matters worse. Both Centre and States have to acknowledge that scoring debating points helped by megaphone TV anchors has only compounded the problem and adds insult to Manipur’s injuries which is the worst thing.
The Government must put in a mechanism to ensure complaints are filed, FIRs registered. The Centre should instruct State Governments to enforce rule of law when needed. They must have a plan to bring the Administration back on track and apply balm on broken souls.
Undeniably, our political leadership has failed. All are drawing lines on water and indulging in political one-upmanship. Sadly, Parliament has become a battleground of conscience. Since both Opposition and Ruling Party are unwilling to step back from the precipice of confrontation, Manipur faces irreparable damage to its identity.
Our leaders collectively need to explore ways to bridge the gulf between communities as the fault-lines in Manipur can set-off cracks beyond its borders, as evident in neighbouring Mizoram where a local outfit has threatened the resident Meitei population. There is also a transnational dimension as many have kinship ties in Myanmar, which is roiled in conflict of its own.
The nation wants answers from those in charge in Delhi and Imphal. The Government must converse with Opposition, by stubbornly refusing to do so in Parliament it is striking a blow to accountability of Treasury Benches to the people. Remember, even as violence is flesh to flesh, judgement is soul to soul. Time, to tame community goons and our polity who feast on blood and pain. History neither forgives nor forgets the crushing of innocents. — INFA