The fact that the Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh was not invited to the Monday meeting convened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the Manipur situation remains. It is confirmation of the Central government’s position vis-à-vis Manipur turmoil that N Biren Singh could not be trusted with non-partisan handling of the crisis or that Centre meaning the BJP led government in New Delhi does not trust the BJP led government here in Manipur. It began with Amit Shah’s announcement of handing over the chairmanship of Unified Command to the Security Advisor.
N Biren Singh should have protested the decision then and there. It was an insult, but he meekly accepted the Union Home Minister’s decision. Till today, he is unable to openly protest the decision although he confides his helplessness in private to visiting groups of CSOs and alike. He is still unable to voice his protest with regard to his exclusion in the Monday meeting in New Delhi. The Manipur government was represented by the Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi and DGP Rajiv Singh while a host of top security officials including Generals and intelligence chiefs were present.
The outcome of the meeting led to decisions like increasing deployment of central forces in sensitive pockets while the Home Ministry will hold dialogue with both Kukis and Meiteis. After hearing reports from security officials representing both state and central, The Union Home Ministry is understood to have ‘identified’ the intervention of Meira Paibis in movement of forces and recovery of arms looted from police armouries as twin challenges which needed to be dealt first and foremost, while the issue of frequent attacks by Kuki militants in the fringe villages of the valley and obstruction in movement of security personnel by both Kuki women and armed militants in Kuki dominated areas remained out of the radar. Maybe it is because of their thinking that Kuki militants and women protestors are non-issues or they do not at all feel threatened by incursions from Kukis. Somehow, they are coy and docile like a new bride among the Kukis, while they bare their fangs while dealing with Meira Paibis.
The security forces do not feel themselves threatened or that peace is threatened when Kuki militants are armed to the teeth going about attacking fringe villages in the valley. Yet, security forces posted nearby suddenly become active when armed village volunteers with help from state forces begin to retaliate and remember their duty is to keep the peace between warring groups. They do not feel threatened when Kuki militants stopped them from proceeding further brandishing their guns and locally made Pompi cannons or when Kuki women pushed them around in Moreh and other Kuki dominated areas. But they suddenly feel threatened when Meira Paibis accosts them for one reason or the other. They raise hell and allege obstruction in performing duty by Meira Paibis.
When violence erupted in Jiribam, after evacuating Meitei civilians from their villages they rushed back to guard the Kuki villages with barbed wire fencing. While the Kukis clinged to the sense of security provided for by security forces stationed near their villages, a lack of trust for the very same forces haunts the valley populace. Still, those sitting in New Delhi remain unmindful of the whys and wherefores of resistance by Meira Paibis and their lack of trust in the security forces.
Now, the powers that be in New Delhi seem convinced that it is the Meira Paibis and those armed with looted weapons are the only factors obstructing the process of peace in the state. Sadly, the state leaders are not man enough to put forward the alternative viewpoints and narratives other than those presented by security officials. They sulk that they have not been invited or asked to present their viewpoints. Now it is up to the people to fend for themselves and present their viewpoint in whatever manner they seem fit. It would be futile to expect any help either from the state or central government.
