Violence in Manipur. Credit: PTI Photo
by Muhammad Ahmad Khan 8 May 2023
On May 3, the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur started a march against the state decision to assign the Meitei community the Scheduled Tribe status. The protests turned into violence when Meiteis also responded due to their reservations against the demolition of three churches. So far the clashes have resulted in 54 deaths. The government has imposed a curfew in the region and the army has shoot-at-sight orders to bring normalcy. India has recently concluded the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting but the issue was ignored as the national and international media fell mum silent. However, just to highlight what’s going on in the state and anticipate its future implications are the subject matter of this article.
Mielites, mostly Hindus, followed by Muslims are 53 percent of the Manipur population living in Imphal Valley which makes up 10 percent of the state. However, other majority tribal groups Kukis and Nagas, largely Christians live in the uphills and forests along with other communities. Meiteis, being the majority, have always dominated the politics of the Manipur states and that is why BJP government actions in the state are seen through suspicions. The matter is more than providing the ST status to Meiteis. The status is actually a surety by the central government to provide certain protections to the communities of ST status. The communities seek quotas in government jobs, schools, and political representation as well. Although there are no set requirements by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the status acquisition, it backs the 1931 survey that marks primitive traits, geographical isolations, shyness to connect, and backwardness as some criteria. The President of India with the consent of the governor of the state approves the ST for the community. Meiteis, prior to their merger with the Indian Union were privileged by the ST. However in 1950, Caste System in India was abolished, but the tribes still indulged in certain social hierarchies.
Behind recent clashes in Manipur, there are two basic reasons, the eviction of Tribes from reserved forests and the Manipur High Court’s decision to approve ST status for Meiteis. Kukis and Nagas, the hill tribes along with others see the decision as discriminatory that would impact their political and social representation from the state. Thousands of people participated in the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organised by the student body in Manipur. The protests had started earlier when CM N Biren Singh’s venue was set on fire by a mob, where he was supposed to address a function. However, the violence instigated when both ethnic groups countered each other face to face turning streets into a war zone.
Why the violence has instigated in the valley is because of major concerns by tribal groups. Meiteis belonged to Other Backward Class and tribal groups had privilege over them as they could come to the valley and buy their lands. While granting ST status would reverse the matters as Meiteis will be able to buy tribe’s land in the hill areas. It would cause loss of jobs and opportunities for tribal people. For these communities either Nagas, Kukis or Meiteis, traditions matter a lot. Theri land, their culture, their language everything is sacred to them. When it is threatened it is being perceived as a threat to their existence to procure which they fight for their lives. Government looks so far stubborn on its decision and aims to maintain law and order with force. But the matter wont be resolved so easily, and ultimately either the High Court decision will be taken back or some negotiation will start to settle the disputes. Although BJP has no political loos in supporting Meiteis as the group holds majority, but peace in Manipur will remain at stake until the negotiation is being discussed listening to the concerns of both ethnic communities.