State govt flailing, Amit Shah’s Mission Manipur involved restoring trust in govt, placating Kukis
CRITICISED for coming to Manipur only about a month after the start of the violence in the state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah used his visit there to try to restore confidence in the government.
Virtually taking over the administration for the four days he spent in Manipur – unusually long for a Union Home Minister – Shah visited refugee camps, announced relief measures, met civil society groups and officials, and addressed a press conference where he stressed that government actions would be “unbiased”.
Officials said it was significant that Shah did not limit his engagement to just political leaders and officials but interacted with a cross-section of civil society, including women’s groups, intellectuals and social activists.
The N Biren Singh government has been accused of partisanship in its handling of the violence, particularly of turning a blind eye to Meitei aggression, fuelling Kuki anger and distrust.
An official said that the Centre too realised the need to reassure the Kuki community, and that this was why Shah visited three different places dominated by Kukis in three corners of the state.
In the Kuki-dominated districts of Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, the Home Minister was greeted by people carrying the Tricolour and holding banners and placards with messages saying “We Support Your Peace Mission”, “We Applaud Central Government’s Efforts to Bring Peace in Manipur” and “Our Solution is With You Amit Shah”, underlining their loss of trust in the Biren Singh government.
These were interspersed with posters demanding a separate administration for Kukis and asserting the tribal right to protest.