Charred remains of a vehicle are seen on a road following violent clashes in Manipur. , Photo Credit: ANI
Amid last week’s violence and the demand for 10 tribal legislators from the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, along with four cabinet colleagues and the state BJP president, reached Delhi on May 14 in a chartered flight. There should be a separate administration for the hilly areas following the conflict between the Meitei and the tribal population.
Mr. Singh is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, though both these meetings could not be confirmed at the time of filing this report.
According to informed sources, the issue of suspension of ongoing operations with terrorist organizations is also likely to be discussed. The demand of 10 MLAs from the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group assumes significance as seven of them are from the BJP, two from the Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) and one is an Independent. Two KPA and Independent MLAs are also part of the BJP-led NDA. talking to Hindu, an MLA from the tribal group, said their priority, more than a change of leadership, was the re-establishment of peace in the state. An MLA said, “This is our priority and for the rest please talk to the chief minister.”
‘Tribal Unity March’
Four cabinet ministers – Th Biswajit, Y. Khemchand, K. Govinddas and Th. Prashant – went to Delhi with the Chief Minister. Sources said that BJP state president A.K. Sharda Devi also accompanied him to Delhi. Violent clashes broke out in the northeastern state after a ‘tribal solidarity march’ was organized in 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and a court order to consider the demand.
Tensions over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserved forest land led to earlier clashes, which led to several smaller agitations. Meites constitute about 53% of the population of Manipur and mostly live in the Imphal Valley. The tribals – Naga and Kuki – constitute 40% of the population and live in the hilly districts. Mr Singh had said on Monday that 60 people were killed, 231 injured and 1,700 houses, including religious places, were gutted in caste violence in the state.
Tension prevailed in Manipur with internet services suspended and curfew imposed in some districts, though it eased within a few hours.