Ethnic tension in Manipur: Need for tripartite meeting of Meitei, Kuki and Naga representatives

By Dut Singh*

On May 3, 2023, the Indian government announced its intention to grant the Meitei community "Scheduled Tribe" status. This designation provides access to certain government positions, university admissions, national welfare programs, and special rights.

However, this decision sparked discontent among Christian-dominated Naga and Kuki communities in Manipur, who viewed it as a threat to their own rights and opportunities. Protests organized by the Naga and Kuki escalated into violent clashes, leading to ongoing hostilities between the Meitei and Kuki communities.

The situation further deteriorated on November 11, 2024, when suspected Kuki militants attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) post near the Jiribam police station. Security forces claimed to have neutralized 10 Kuki militants during the assault, but the militants also abducted three women and three children.

The Kuki group refuted the security forces’ claims, alleging that the deceased were Kuki volunteers murdered by the CRPF. They demanded the withdrawal of the CRPF from the area and its replacement with the Assam Rifles. Meanwhile, various non-governmental organizations condemned the militants’ actions, called for stringent measures against insurgent groups, and urged the government to designate these groups as illegal organizations.

On November 16, six hostages kidnapped by the militants were brutally murdered, igniting widespread outrage and protests. In response, angry crowds attacked the residences of 13 Members of Parliament, including a cabinet minister, demanding justice for the victims.

Political parties, including Congress and the National People’s Party (NPP), expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Manipur government. The NPP went as far as withdrawing its support for the National Democratic Alliance, while the World Meitei Council demanded changes in the state’s leadership.

In an attempt to restore order, the central government reinstated the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in unrest-affected areas, including Sekmai, Lamsang, Lamlai, Jiribam, Leimakhong, and Moirang. Over 7,000 personnel from 70 Central Armed Police Force companies were deployed to these regions. Despite these measures, the local situation remains dire, with entrenched ethnic tensions and violence persisting.

To achieve lasting peace in Manipur, reliance on military intervention alone is insufficient. The central and state governments must prioritize dialogue and reconciliation. Convening a tripartite meeting with representatives from the Meitei, Kuki, and Naga communities could pave the way for meaningful discussions. Political leaders and community representatives must work together to promote peace and calm, ensuring an inclusive and sustainable solution to the long-standing ethnic conflict in the region.

---

*All Manipur Students’ Union

Comments

How natural and organic farming can be a key to combating the climate crisis

By Raj Kumar Sinha* On July 9, while addressing the “Sahkar Samvad” in Ahmedabad with women and workers associated with cooperatives from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that natural farming is essential for both our health and the health of the soil. This is a significant statement in the context of addressing the climate change crisis. Natural farming can play a crucial role in combating climate change. Also known as organic farming, it is a system of agriculture that can increase food production without harming the environment. Natural farming has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 35% to 50%.

100 yrs of RSS as seen by global media house: Power, controversy, push for Hindu-first India

By Rajiv Shah On a blistering summer evening in Nagpur, nearly a thousand men in brown trousers, white shirts, and black caps stood in formation as a saffron flag was raised, marking a graduation ceremony for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers. This vivid scene, described in a recent FT Weekend Magazine article, “A hundred years after it was founded, India's Hindu-nationalist movement is getting closer to its goal of a Hindu-first state,” captures the enduring presence of the RSS, a century-old Hindu-nationalist organization.

Another 'honor' killing in Tamil Nadu: Caste pride has murdered love, again

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Once again, Tamil Nadu has witnessed a brutal so-called 'honor' killing. This time, it is Kevin Selvaganesh, a 27-year-old software engineer from the Scheduled Caste community, who has been hacked to death by the family of the girl he loved since childhood. Kevin, a brilliant student employed at Tata Consultancy Services, was in a relationship with Subashini, his schoolmate and girlfriend. The couple, both well-educated and professionally qualified, had plans to marry. Yet, that love story ended in bloodshed — sacrificed at the altar of caste pride.

Why is India’s cheetah project under fire? Study flags ecological, social, species injustices

By Rajiv Shah A recent peer-reviewed study has sharply criticized Project Cheetah—India’s high-profile initiative to reintroduce African cheetahs into the wild—as ethically compromised, scientifically flawed, and socially unjust. Titled “Delineating the Environmental Justice Implications of an Experimental Cheetah Introduction Project in India”, the paper is authored by Yashendu C. Joshi, Stephanie E. Klarmann, and Louise C. de Waal, and was published in Frontiers in Conservation Science.

The myth of population decline: India’s real challenge is density, not fertility

By N.S. Venkataraman* India’s population in 2025 stands at approximately 1.4 billion. In 1950, it was 359 million, rising sharply to 1.05 billion by 2000. The population continues to grow and is projected to reach around 1.7 billion by 2050.

Siang dam project sparks debate over security, development, and displacement in Arunachal

By Aarna Gupta* The proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) in Arunachal Pradesh, India, has emerged as a contentious initiative shaped by strategic, environmental, and social concerns. Indian officials, including Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, have voiced strong support for the project. One of the primary motivations is China’s plan to build a 60,000 MW hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River (the upper stretch of the Brahmaputra) in Tibet, which Indian authorities see as a threat to water and national security. In response, the 11,000 MW Siang Dam, with its 9 billion cubic meter reservoir, is viewed as a necessary countermeasure to manage water flow and reduce vulnerability.

Shanghai Textbook reassessed: Between revolutionary rhetoric and economic reality

By Harsh Thakor "Maoist Economics and the Revolutionary Road to Communism: The Shanghai Textbook on Socialist Political Economy" (1975) presents a detailed exposition of the Chinese perspective on socialist political economy under Mao . Developed during the Cultural Revolution, it outlines a theoretical framework for the functioning of a socialist alternative to capitalism. The book was formulated under the direction of Zhang Chunqiao, who played a central role in discussions, content planning, and final reviews of the draft.

Trump’s tariff tactics are a geopolitical bully move that may backfire

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent move to impose high tariffs on Indian goods is yet another example of his aggressive, unilateralist economic policy—an attempt to pressure and punish rather than to negotiate. This is not an isolated action. Trump has shown similar hostility toward other countries aligned with the BRICS bloc—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—reflecting his disdain for multipolar global cooperation and his desire to maintain American economic supremacy at all costs.

Search This Blog