Unveiling the Tragic Turmoil: The Emotional Anatomy of the Meitei-Kuki Conflict in Manipur
Nongthombam Biren Singh, who faced persistent demands to resign due to his contentious management of the Meitei-Kuki conflict since May 2023, officially stepped down on Sunday. His resignation occurred just before the legislative assembly’s budget session, where the Congress party planned to introduce a potential no-confidence motion against the BJP-led government.
The conflict’s roots trace back to April 20, 2023, when the Manipur High Court directed the state government to consider granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meitei community. This sparked significant opposition from tribal groups. On April 28, 2023, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum called for a complete shutdown, leading to aggressive protests and the cancellation of Biren Singh’s visit to Churachandpur after damages to public property.
The situation escalated on May 3, as a peaceful demonstration by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur against the Meitei ST status turned violent, igniting a full-fledged Meitei-Kuki conflict. This resulted in 54 deaths by May 5. In response, the central government invoked Article 355 to assume control of security. The conflict intensified with mass looting of weapons, totaling around 4,000, from various security installations by May 28.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visits in May 2023 and April 2024 attempted to mediate, but protests persisted. In July 2023, a distressing video emerged showing two Kuki women being humiliated, which provoked national outrage and condemnation from Prime Minister Modi.
The political landscape shifted significantly as the BJP lost both Lok Sabha seats to Congress in April 2024. Tensions further escalated in November 2024 with the kidnapping and murder of six Meitei women and children, coinciding with the killing of ten alleged Kuki-Zo militants by the CRPF.
Following Biren Singh’s resignation, Governor A K Bhalla mandated the continuation of his administration until alternative governance was arranged. In a late Sunday announcement, the governor’s secretariat deemed the January assembly session order “null and void,” prompting new political discussions and potential negotiations.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/manipur-unrest-anatomy-of-meitei-kuki-conflict/articleshow/118103870.cms
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Publish Date: 2025-02-10 09:19:00
