While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gone into God mode, his trusted lieutenant Union Home Minister Amit Shah still continues his effort to calm down ruffled feathers in the conflict-ridden state of Manipur. Earlier when he announced the central government decision to do away with the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and fencing of the whole stretch of Indo-Myanmar border he said, one of the factors of the ongoing Manipur violence is infiltration of illegal immigrants from across the border.
The party faithful went through the roof praising the central government decisions, oblivious to the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had neither visited the state nor uttered a meaningful gesture of empathy with the people who had lost their near and dear ones and thousands of internally displaced people robbed of their home and hearth, besides the unceasing cycle of violence.
The band of supporters in Manipur, often harassed by the Meira Paibis and general public, managed to unearth a speech given by the Prime Minister on August 15 from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort when he made a passing remark of the Manipur violence. After that mention, not even a word of shock or condemnation was made. In his monthly musings, he chose not to mention the Manipur crisis. He did utter a few words when the photos of ‘naked parade’ were splashed everywhere in the national and international media.
All the while, BJP local leaders had no explanation when the general public questioned them on Modi’s silence. They had no answer except that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was seized of the problem. BJP leaders here including the Chief Minister often say Amit Shah briefs the Prime Minister on the Manipur situation almost every day. Then one fine day during an election visit to the neighbouring state of Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally spoke about the Manipur violence. But what he said was more of a claim in which he talked about ‘timely intervention’ in Manipur by the Centre which paid dividends and it became a running joke in the social media. Indeed, if Prime Minister Modi had intervened in time the situation could have changed its course and in another trajectory. But he was too busy visiting foreign countries and elections.
In April this year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah raised his concerns about attempts to alter Manipur's demographic makeup through infiltration. Then in early May, he dismissed claims that the ethnic violence that broke out in Manipur between Kuki and Meitei communities in May 2023 was ‘terrorism’. While expressing the need to resolve 'differences' between two communities through 'dialogue and empathy', he said that the situation in neighbouring Myanmar has added to the problem. But the government has taken steps like fencing of the border and regulating the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border.
Some sections here were crestfallen when he said that it was ethnic violence and not terrorism. Yes, it was a matter of opinion which needs further debate. But again, Amit Shah on Saturday pressed home the point about ethnic violence. Also he said that the government is working on removing the trust deficit between the Meitei and Kuki communities to bring lasting peace in Manipur and the process will be expedited with utmost priority once the Lok Sabha elections are over. He also explained that bringing back trust between the communities is a time-consuming job, but it was delayed due to elections and it is quite natural. We understand, elections are important. But, keeping in abeyance the violence and enmity between communities for more than 13 months without a care for the killings, disappearances, displacement and uncertainty is too much and it smacks of arrogance.
