Spewing venoms of hatred and its after-effect

Samarjit Kambam *

Manipur is like a mini-world with umpteen ethnic groups of different dialects castes, creeds and diverse religions. It, therefore, is a sensitive State where issues crop up every now and then from amongst the multifarious ethnic groups. Being a pluralistic state, it is also a pain in the neck of the state government to tackle new issues cropping up everyday.

Other than running the administrative machinery, it is also one paramount task of the state government to look into the issues of different communities and indigenous groups of Manipur so that no flare-up of communalism and hatred amongst the assorted indigenous groups do not take place. The various civil societies operating in Manipur are duty bound to strive for peace among the different communities and diverse ethnic groups of the state.

The previous year’s Lui-Ngai-ni festival which was conducted in Ukhrul, a festival of sowing seeds turned out as a platform for sowing hatred and spewing venom among the different ethnic groups of Manipur. No, not by leaders of Manipur government, but by leaders of adjoining states. At the outset, the most unpalatable scenario was that no big shots, ministers and high profile bureaucrats from Manipur were invited at the function even though the venue was at a district of Manipur itself.

Even the Chief of Manipur wasn’t invited wherein the Chief Ministers of Mizoram and Nagaland were invited and accorded a warm welcome. Another lack of basic courtesy, poverty of thoughts by the denizens of Ukhrul, a narrow minded mind-set. Ukhrul is one of the nine districts of Manipur but the denizens of Ukhrul have disclosed vividly their mental picture as if Ukhrul has become a part of greater Nagalim.

Or is it the framework agreement’s aftershock which was signed between Govt of India and NSCN (IM)? Even though the details of the framework agreement are not disclosed to the media houses, there is apprehension in the minds of the people whether the territorial integrity of the state has already been compromised as strong undercurrents of territorial bifurcation seems to run post last year’s Lui-Ngai-ni festival. Seems like the self-confidence of the Nagas is running high which means that the leaders of Nagas who took part in signing the framework agreement must have something in store, the picture inside the framework shielded to the public.

At this critical juncture of ILP implementation logjam where the three bills passed unanimously by the Legislative Assembly last year have been taken as anti-tribal by our hill brethren, further seeds of hatred have been sown during that sensitive phase. Just like the unpalatable development during last year’s Lui-Ngai-ni festival which eclipsed the state government’s and JCILPS efforts for integration, peace and unity of the state, this time also the incumbent Chief Minister of Nagaland in the flesh and blood of TR Zeliang the “holier than thou” phony has sprinkled water to the seeds of hatred which he sowed last year.

He has played his part and worked out diabolic designs to widen the rifts between the hills and valley people. First of all he needs to understand that unlike Nagaland, Manipur is a land where coexistence is the delicate fabric of the numerous ethnic groups woven together since millenniums. Well, he came, created deeper rift between the hills and valley people and he left. But he has left a legacy of ever broadening hatred among the various communities of Manipur. He spoke of Manipur’s history and tradition without an iota of Manipur’s knowledge.

In fact, he is the last educated man from Nagaland. Even though there is freedom of expression, TR Zeliang has no moral obligation to spew venom, create hatred and divisive policy amongst the various ethnic communities of Manipur. To attend as Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, Special Invitee whatsoever, the individual’s duty should usually focus on the function, ceremony, whatsoever, no limits should be crossed by bringing out controversial topics, topics that become a “domino’s effect” of division and hatred.

As after-effect of the seed of hatred sown by TR Zeliang supported by Lal Thanhawla at the Lui-Ngai-ni festival last year, the Naga Political Leaders Forum Manipur (NLPFM) has already defended, supported and applauded the vitriolic statements made by them, which clearly shows that the seed of discord sown during the festival has blossomed to bear fruits of hatred and divisiveness among the people of Manipur.

The NLPFM also needs to understand that the very culprits are the ministers of hill districts who reside like tycoons in the valley, the very ones elected by them that makes them feel marginalised, aggrieved and oppressed as the huge funding for Sadar Hills and Autonomous district councils are siphoned off by them for their own personal gains.

The recent ambush at the incumbent Chief Minister of the State at Ukhrul bears testimony to the fact that the advanced weapons used are not of civil society organisations but obviously of armed outfits.

The attempt on the Chief Minister was an open confrontation to the very state of Manipur and its people with TR Zeliang adding fuel to the fire. Had the CM of Manipur travelled by road instead of a chopper, he might have ended up as a body bag. That dastardly act was shameful, immoral and unethical. Lets not forget that violence begets only violence.

While we are heaping flak on each other, it is better to bear in mind that there are bigger unpalatable things happening out here. The number of non-locals are flooding in everyday in our state by the hundreds robbing us of our living space, suffocating us, draining and squeezing us dry.

The previous year’s MPSC Civil Service imbroglio where the number of non-local candidate aspirants surpassed the 14000 count out of a total of around 35000 was one such example, an unprecedented episode, a record setting ugly trend. So, let’s bury the hatchets and live together as brothers and sisters regardless of hill and valley.

Time to understand that we the Nagas, Kukis, Chins, Meeteis… have been living as blood-brothers since time immemorial and it is the moral obligation of brothers to strengthen the bond of love instead of parting ways. The ground reality is that we the indigenous people living in the valley are the main losers and sufferers.

We have no quotas, no reservations, no benefits from the side of the government as we are considered ‘General’ groups. We are really aggrieved at the loss of 9 precious lives in Churachandpur, which could have been avoided had the various tribal student bodies and civil societies came to the negotiating table but please also remember that we the valley people lost double the time of precious lives during the Great June Uprising on 18 June 2001.

The three bills passed unanimously by the Legislative assembly in Aug 31, 2015 were especially meant for the valley. Even though many clauses were there which have been considered as anti-tribal by our hill brethrens, it is a known fact that, the clauses will not be carried out in letter and spirit in the hill areas and the government will act just out of good faith as going against the interest of the hill people will definitely have serious repercussions.

The problem is that the hill people believe that everything that is being done for the betterment of the state is only Meetei-centric, that Meeteis are trying to be the dominant group in the state while on the other hand the opposite is happening. Presently, the Meeteis are the disappearing species, about to become extinct, putting one step forward and making two steps backward with no Rule, no Act, no nothing for protection of our indigenous rights.

That myopic scope of thinking leads to this volcanic eruption of distrust amongst the hill and valley brethrens. We the valley people are more than happy residing in the valley, we don’t want to live in the hills, that is not in our blood. So, our hill brethrens need not worry about the hill areas snatched by valley people. Besides, there are many Acts that protect the hill areas from the valley people.

I need not elaborate on that. My honest appeal to all and sundry is, please don‘t underestimate the indigenous valley people, especially the Meeteis for we will never compromise on the territorial integrity of Manipur and are ready to lay down our lives for the same.

Let peace prevail in Manipur forever.