India’s federal government has ordered the chief minister of Manipur to work harder to restore peace after 50 days of violence between ethnic groups. Despite a heavy security presence, clashes between members of the Kuki ethnic group and the dominant Meiteis community have resulted in at least 80 deaths and more than 40,000 people being forced to flee their homes. The violence began over economic benefits and quotas in government jobs and education reserved for hill people. Several rounds of peace talks between the groups have failed. Human rights groups accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and party of failing to take sufficient action to end ethnic tensions. The latest internet ban in the state has been extended for a further five days.
The northeastern state’s chief minister, N. Biren Singh, said he had been summoned to New Delhi for talks with Home Minister Amit Shah, both members of the same political party. I have been advised by the home minister to work harder towards restoring lasting peace in Manipur, Singh said. I have been asked to further open channels of communication with all the stakeholders so that we are able to bring permanent peace in the state.
As violence continues to deepen the crisis in the state, Modi’s government is under increasing pressure to intervene. Meitei groups have urged the central government to consider granting the status of Scheduled Tribe to ensure that they too can access reserved quotas and economic benefits. Meanwhile, Kukis argue that their communities are more deserving of such benefits, as they have long faced discrimination in government policies.
Although Manipur’s government has sought UN assistance to resolve the crisis, human rights groups believe more can and should be done by Modi’s government to restore peace in the region. Currently, the people of Manipur are forced to wait and see whether their leaders can agree on a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
