Manipur: Violence triggered by infiltrators, or is it another diversionary tactic?
Reports have come out in the media in recent days regarding infiltrators from across the Myanmar border fuelling the unrest and the resultant ethno-communal clashes between the Meiteis and Kukis (or specifically, Kuki-Zomis) in Manipur.
Words to this effect were spelled out by the state’s governor Anusuiya Uikey during a visit to a relief camp in the Imphal East district on July 13.
In the latest episode of such infiltration, more than 700 were reported to have come in, according to Assam Rifles.
However, refugees from Myanmar have been coming into India, sometimes in large groups and sometimes in small groups, for a long time, forced in as a result of Myanmarese army operations against ethnic groups on its northern borders.
In fact, not just Manipur, they come in through the Mizoram border too.
So, the suspicion naturally arises, is this another diversionary tactic by a desperate BJP, whose governments (both at the Centre and in the state) have been unable to control the violence, or, as some allege, have intentionally let the violence fester for some sort of electoral gains.
The violence started in early May after the Manipur High Court ordered the Central government to re-examine a demand by the majority Meitei community to grant it scheduled tribe (ST) status. The Kuki-Zomi community has been opposing this demand for a long time because it believes that the ST status would lead to the Meitei community pushing it out of opportunities in various areas in the state.
