The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 24th October 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

The Manipur crisis, the issue of managing diversity 

Why in News?

Yet another round of escalation of violence in Manipur has reportedly led to the Chief Minister of the State making multiple demands that include greater control over security operations. This means that the Chief Minister has not been in charge for some time. Another jarring revelation, as in media reports, is even the supposed invocation of Article 355 of the Constitution, where the Union has a duty to protect States against external aggression and internal disturbance. The breakdown of the constitutional machinery in Manipur is an open secret. The alarming situation raises significant questions about the capacity of the Constitution to reconcile identitarian differences.

Manipur Violence 2023: Protests and Clashes Over ST Status

• Manipur Violence of 2023 was triggered by protests and clashes.
• Triggered by a Manipur High Court directive regarding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meitei community.
• The recommendation was based on a decade-old suggestion.
• Raised issues about reservations, ST status, and shoot-at-sight orders.
• On May 3, 2023, inter-ethnic conflict erupted.
• Involved the Meitei majority and the Kuki-Zo tribal community.
• Resulted in significant casualties and injuries.
• Government records indicate 175 deaths.
• Reported over 1,100 injuries and 32 missing persons.
• Violence led to the destruction of 4,786 homes.
• 386 religious structures were destroyed, including temples and churches.
• Displaced over 70,000 people from their homes.
• Unofficial estimates suggest even higher casualty figures.

The Ethno-Demographic Landscape of Manipur

Manipur's geographical features and strategic location significantly influence the challenges the State encounters.

Geography and Demographics

• 16 districts: Manipur is divided into 16 districts, which are typically categorized into “valley” and “hill” regions.
• Imphal Valley: The Imphal Valley, located in the heart of Manipur, is surrounded by hills. This valley constitutes about 10% of the state’s landmass and is the primary area of habitation.
• Highways: Four critical highways provide access to the Imphal Valley. Among these, two highways are considered the “lifelines for the State”, highlighting their importance for transportation and connectivity.
• Population: The valley is predominantly inhabited by the non-tribal Meitei community, which makes up over 64% of the state’s population.
• Political Representation: The Meitei community holds a significant political influence, occupying 40 out of 60 seats in the State's Legislative Assembly.

Hills Region

• Geographical Area: The hill region comprises nearly 90% of Manipur’s geographical area.
• Tribal Population: About 35% of the population in this region is made up of recognized tribes.
• Political Representation: Despite the larger geographical area and tribal population, the hill regions are represented by only 20 MLAs in the Legislative Assembly.

Religious Composition

• Meitei Community: The Meitei community is predominantly Hindu, with a significant minority of Muslims.
• Tribal Communities: The recognized tribes, categorized as “Any Naga tribes” and “Any Kuki tribes”, are mainly Christian.

Historical Context of the Violence in Manipur

The Kingdom of Kangleipak

• The valley districts of Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching, Imphal East, and Imphal West were part of the ancient kingdom of Kangleipak, ruled by the Ningthouja dynasty.
• Historians suggest that the tribal areas outside the valley were also part of Kangleipak. However, this is disputed by the tribes, especially the Naga tribes.

British Intervention and Tribal Relations

• Kangleipak, a British protectorate, faced frequent attacks from the Naga tribes in the northern hills.
• To protect the valley, the British political agent in Manipur relocated the Kuki-Zomi from the Kuki-Chin hills of Burma to create a buffer zone between the Meiteis and the Nagas.
• The Kukis, like the Nagas, were known as fierce headhunting warriors. The Maharaja allocated them land along the ridges to serve as a protective barrier for the valley.

The Meitei Community’s Pursuit for ST Status

Scheduled Tribes Demand Committee of Manipur(STDCM) has been advocating for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meitei community since 2012.

Petition to Manipur High Court

• Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union filed a petition before the Manipur High Court, claiming that the Meitei community was recognized as a “tribe” before the merger of Manipur with India in 1949.
• The petitioners argued that the community lost its tribal identity post-merger and sought ST status to protect their ancestral land, tradition, culture, and language.
• According to STDCM:
• Victimization: The Meitei community has faced victimization without constitutional protection.
• Marginalization: The community has been increasingly marginalized in their ancestral land.
• Population Decline: The Meitei population decreased from 59% of Manipur’s total population in 1951 to 44% as per the 2011 Census.

Verdict of the Manipur High Court

• On April 19, 2023, the Manipur High Court directed the Manipur government to submit a 10-year-old recommendation to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry for including the Meitei community in the ST list within four weeks.
• The Court referred to a 2013 letter from the Union Tribal Ministry to the State government, requesting recommendations along with the latest societal economic survey and ethnographic report.

Resistance by Other Tribal Groups

• Proposal for ST status for the Meitei community has faced opposition from other tribal groups in Manipur.
• These tribal groups argue that the Meitei community already possesses a demographic and political advantage.
• They believe that the Meitei community is more advanced than the tribal groups in terms of academic achievement and other factors.
• Various tribal organizations contend that granting ST status to the Meiteis would lead to a loss of employment opportunities for tribal groups and allow Meiteis to acquire land in the hills, displacing tribal communities.
• Groups like the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur argue that the Meitei language is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, and many Meiteis already enjoy benefits associated with Scheduled Castes (SC) or Other Backward Classes (OBC) status.

Additional Causes for the Recent Unrest

• The divide between the Meiteis and tribals such as Kukis on various issues has intensified in recent years.
• The state government's notices declaring that the 38 villages in the Churachandpur-Khoupum Protected Forest area are “illegal settlements” and its residents are “encroachers”, along with the subsequent eviction drive, led to serious clashes.
• The state’s first delimitation process since 1973 has caused concerns and discontent.
• The state is grappling with a massive refugee crisis due to the military coup in Myanmar.
• Meitei leaders have alleged a sudden surge in the number of villages in the Churachandpur district.
• The Kuki-Zomi tribesmen of both countries share strong ties of ethnicity, customs, language, and dress.
• Pro-government groups in the State believe that a few tribal groups with vested interests are trying to disrupt the government’s battle against drugs.

The Kuki-Meitei Divide

• The conflict between the hill communities and the Meiteis has persisted since the time of the kingdom of Kangleipak.
• These tensions escalated during the 1950s with the rise of the Naga national movement and the demands for an independent Naga nation.
• The Naga insurgency led to the emergence of insurgent groups among the Meiteis and Kuki-Zomi.
• In the 1990s, as the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah)(NSCN-IM), one of the largest Naga groups, pushed harder for self-determination, the Kuki-Zomi groups began to militarise.
• The Kukis later launched their own movement for “Kukiland”, demanding the creation of a separate state within India.
• Although the Kukis once protected the Meitei people, the “Kukiland movement” created a rift between the communities.

The Supreme Court’s Perspective

• The Supreme Court has described the Manipur crisis as a “humanitarian problem” and expressed concerns about the loss of life and property.
• The apex court noted that it is the President who has the power to designate a community as Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, not the High Court.
• The Chief Justice of India (CJI) has urged the Centre and the Manipur government to make efforts to protect the people.

The Central Government's Position

• The Union Home Minister stated that the order passed by the Manipur High Court will be studied and discussed with all stakeholders.
• Appropriate decisions will be taken after consultation.
• The Indian Army has deployed Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and helicopters to increase surveillance on the situation in Manipur and along the Indo-Myanmar Border.