Security personnel stand guard in Imphal following imposition of President's rule.
Credit: PTI Photo
Guwahati: President's Rule was promulgated in Manipur on February 13 after nearly two years of a spiralling conflict involving the majority Meitei and minority Kuki tribes.
After the killing of more than 260 people and displacement of over 60,000 individuals since May 2023, the President's Rule finally came as a ray of hope for many seeking a peaceful resolution of the bloody crisis.
Here, we gives an account of what lies ahead for the state, the steps taken so far under the Centre's rule and responses of the two communities.
What difference has the President's Rule brought to Manipur so far?
After the President's Rule was imposed, the Centre asked the security forces to launch an all out operation to "de-arm" the communities and seize illegal weapons within three months – both in the Meitei-dominated Valley or in Kuki-inhabited districts. Accordingly, the number of forces has been enhanced. More than 20 insurgents have been arrested in the past one week. They belong to factions of valley-based groups such as Kangleipak Communist Party, People's Liberation Army, PREPAK and Kuki groups such as Kuki National Army and United National Kuki Army. At least 15 IEDs and sophisticated weapons like HK rifles, INSAS and AK series rifles have been recovered. More than 6,000 weapons were looted from armouries in the Imphal Valley in May 2023 and nearly half of them are still missing.
Has any attempt been made to initiate talks with the Meiteis and the Kukis?
No formal talks have begun though some leaders and officials in New Delhi reached out to organisations representing the Kuki and the Meitei communities after the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh and imposition of the President's Rule.
Is there any change in the stand and demand of the Meitei and Kuki groups?
Both Meitei and the Kuki groups remained firm in their demands. In a memorandum to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on February 17, the Co-ordination Committee on Manipur Unity, an influential forum of Meitei outfits, reiterated its opposition to the demand by the Kuki organisations for a "separate administration”; call for abrogation of the suspension of operations agreement signed with the Kuki insurgent groups since 2008; a crackdown against illegal poppy cultivation and smuggling of drugs and implementation of a National Register of Citizens to "detect" illegal Chin-Kuki migrants from neighbouring Myanmar. They also demanded restoration of the government within a month.
On the other hand, Kuki Zo Council, an apex body of almost all Kuki-Zo outfits, welcomed the President's Rule and urged the Centre for peaceful settlement of its demand for a "separate administration." They also opposed BJP leader Sambit Patra's (in-charge of Manipur) remarks about ruling BJP's commitment for territorial integrity of Manipur. This, according to them, was a stand against the demand of the Kuki groups for separation from Meitei-dominated Manipur.
What is the stand of the MLAs after the President's Rule?
The assembly has 59 MLAs, of which more than 40 belong to the Meitei community. While over 15 such MLAs from the valley urged the Centre and party leaders to resolve the crisis. but they remained opposed to the demands by the Kuki groups. At least 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs, including seven belonging to BJP, on the other hand, urged the Centre to lay out a comprehensive "political roadmap" for peace and justice under a negotiated settlement. The 10 MLAs have been maintaining distance from the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley and the Assembly. They also sought time-bound measures to end the crisis.
What action has been taken by the Centre so far to address the issues raised by both the communities?
Apart from the actions taken by the security forces, the Centre has not made any significant political decision to resolve the conflict. Prior to the imposition of the President’s Rule, the Union government announced fencing the 1,641 km border with Myanmar as demanded by the Meitei bodies. The work is underway. The Meitei bodies including former Chief Minister N Biren Singh reiterated their claim that "unabated infiltration" of the Kuki-Chin migrants through the porous border changed Manipur's demography and posed a threat to their identity. Kuki groups on the other hand said such claims of illegal immigration were out of a wrong perception.