BJP Government’s Peace Initiative Needs Recasting

Elder T. Haokip *

With the abrupt disappearance of Congress rule at New Delhi BJP seems all set/well-poised to become the country’s peoples party under the dynamic leadership of Shri Narendra Modi. The reason for change of hands that would govern the world’s largest and most successful democratic country is that the nation’s teeming million voters have attained an acceptable level of political consciousness to decide its own destination – making India a welfare state; as plainly laid down in the preamble of the constitution.

A country of India’s size and population need a strong, dynamic and visionary leader who could rise above party politics and set aside personnel gains to translate the people’s dreams into reality. As of now the BJP government’s performance during its short stint as people’s government with its unique development strategies have earned the applause of world community leaders. At this juncture the government needs to position itself that the trust and faith reposed in the nation’s new leadership by its citizen’s stands further strengthened and solidified.

Undoubtedly the challenges before the government is to dispel doubts in the minds of the Indian masses as to whether BJP government would toe the lines of the previous government and to inculcate the true spirit of self-sacrifices and full dedicatory services into the three legs of our democratic institution – Legislative, Executive and Judiciary in no uncertain terms.

I would like to share following thoughts for further study, analysis and assessment and for implementation/adoption where necessary in the interest of India’s brighter future.

1. Zero tolerance to mal electoral practices – use of money and muscle power, criminalization of political system for selfish gains to clean up corrupt administration system. This could be the best means to win back the trust and confidence of helpless sections of the society – eg Maoist-infested areas, in particular, into the country’s mainstream governance systems. This is one simple means for an all-time solution.

2. The fear that BJP would toe the lines of hindutva in the long run demands one sincere and effective answer from the government. The risk lies in the fact that any trespassing by any political party into the country’s secularism is bound to stumble sooner or later. Because such endorsement into the basic principles of the constitution is tantamount to challenging the spirit of India’s freedom of worship.

3. Justice and equality for all citizens are another basic tenets of the constitution that makes India’s democracy thriving. There should be no room for tolerating such willful trespassing on such vital constitutional issues. Any willful perpetration of injustice against a citizen of India or one people group is violation of the concerned person’s constitutional rights. One systematic and willful discriminatory action perpetrated against Kuki people by government of India is being produced as a case study to illustrate the issue under discussion briefly as followings:

3.1 The Kuki Inpi (Kuki Government) defended the present so-called North East India, North West Upper Burma and part of Chittagong Hill Tract of Bangladesh – also known as Independent Hill Country – in collaboration with the King of Tipperah (Now Tripura) against the British crown for all its indigenous inhabitants since 1761 AD. The main battle was fought between 1917-19 which scholars named “The Kuki Rising”, or “The Kuki War of Independence” etc as allied force on the German side of World War I.

When the war ended in their defeat due to factors like lack of food supply and exhausted ammunition the Kukis preferred imprisonment rather than surrender to the British Crown. The Kuki Chiefs, who survived their prison terms returned home and resumed their right to land and governance as before. Before any settlement has ever been made/done with the Kuki people the British had left the land, granted freedom to the two colonized nations – India and Burma in 1947 and 1948 respectively to which the Kukis were distributed without their consent.

The Kings of Tripura and Manipur, whose kingdoms were in the heart of the Kuki Country, were declared merged to India on 15 October 1949. The Kukis remained wherever they have been before the British invasion, independent of both India and Burma believing both governments would rule like the British umbrella government without disturbing the traditional governance of indigenous people and their land.

3.2 In February 1996 a mammoth protest rally was staged at Imphal with 900 coffins laid in rows –wrapped with Kuki Traditional shawls at Imphal Pologround as a mark of their resentment over Government’s deafening silence/inaction in the matter of the Kuki peoples timely pleading for protection against NSCN-IM’s onslaught – leading to the murder of 900 innocent Kukis.

It may be recalled that UNC’s Quit Notice served to the Kukis dated 22/10/1992, copy marked to all concerned SDO/DCs, Editor Manipur Mail (for publication in their daily as news item) for necessary compliances etc. The quit notice was signed by RK Thekho, Chairman UNC and Francis Ngajokpa the MLA who resigned recently as the secretary.

The placard held out by the processionists asking “Does Indian Government intend exterminating the Kukis”, and “Are the Kukis not citizens of India?.” The subsequent unfolding events – Government of Manipur’s action in rewarding the so-called UNC Chairman with MPSC member confirmed that UNC’s extermination plan was orchestrated in collaboration with GoM.

3.3 When the whole of Bharat groaned under the repressive regime of the British Crown as their main interest in India was to drain away its rich resources, the people of Bharat from all walks of life hailing from various Independent Kingdoms and princely state, sinking their differences on petty domestic issues – rose in unison in its freedom movement; whereas the so called Independent Hill Country was left sole at the hands of Kuki Chiefs to defend perhaps due to its remote geographical location.

3.4 Once the British left and the so called Independent Hill Country was annexed to India, it was not a costly affair for the new India to compensate the Kukis politically in the form of a Kukiland. Unfortunate to say that, that didn’t happened; the Kuki people continue to exist only to be exploited wherever they are. In Tripura the Kuki Tribals were reduced to minority in their own Kingdom. Under Burmese repressive regime the Kukis suffered eviction under Khadomi Operation in 1976 whereas in Manipur even one fiercer discriminations were being carried out under the very nose of the then ruling congress government. Details account not given for space reason.

3.5 To a Kuki land and freedom are synonymous with one’s life and blood. The traditional Kuki Inpi (Government) policy – advocated Peaceful co-existence with other people groups but never tolerate intruders into their land and freedom. The basic structure of the constitution of India - a–opted by its Constituent Assembly 26 November 1949 coincides with that of the Kuki Traditional policy mainly over India’s resolve to secure to its citizens:

Justice – Social, economic and political,
Equality – of status and of opportunity of all;
Fraternity – Assuring dignity of the individual and unity and integrity of the Nation.

Justice administration of Kuki Inpi ensures settlement of rare cases involving murders – overnight over a jar of wine and such ruling/judgments are binding for one and all. The poor, needy and fatherless feel protected and secure. The sojourner and widows were never left uncared for.

The Why and How to Achieve Peace

When the KNO/UPF, despite fully aware of what had befallen their people and their land under the British regime and under INC; for reasons best known to them, had opted for SoO arrangement as initiated by Indian Army, GoI should have seized such positive response as an opportunity without any hiccups.

It is rather manly on the part of BJP Leadership to say sorry for the past misdeeds of Congress Government which blatantly violated human rights – right to peaceful co-existence of its citizens as guaranteed under our sacred constitution under which rulers had undertook solemn oaths.

Unholy desire to perpetuate one’s rule often leads to criminalization of politics and to gain its short term selfish galas – the right of existence of minority – Kuki People – remained trample under the misrule of Congress government. The country’s new leadership need to rise above party politics and give minority Kuki people their due share.

How

The Nagas, Meitei and Kukis, who live together for ages, should be willing to sit together and settle overlapping land issue for prompt settlement. Respect the unique history of the Kuki people who had suffered immensely for defending the Independent Hill Country for all its indigenous inhabitants. If any party prefers to close their eyes to the past history of the land we all occupy today – the lingering issue besetting our region would only prove a headache for all of us.