When central government announced name of a Chief Minister along with two Deputy Chief Ministers in Manipur, it did not anticipate the protests that would erupt, especially from the very community it was trying to appease: Kuki-Zo.
In May 2023, Manipur was gripped by violence. Conflict erupted between the majority Meitei and Kuki-Zo tribes. This conflict arose following a court order recommending Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community.
Kuki-Zo community opposed this, arguing that this would strengthen the already dominant Meitei community, increase their hold on the government, and even lead to the seizure of their lands. This violence, primarily between the Meitei and Kuki communities, was based on ethnic rather than religious grounds. Sexual violence, displacement, killings, and reprisals became common.
While President’s rule was imposed as a short-term measure following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, these measures were considered only interim measures before lasting peace, if lasting peace was even possible. Since 2023, Manipur has witnessed unprecedented violence, with both communities fighting against each other. For more than three years, displacements, killings, rapes, and ethnic violence have plagued the state.
In February of this year, the central government initiated the installation of a new government. Following the end of President’s rule on February 4th, Yumnam Khemchand Singh was sworn in as Chief Minister. However, this did not stop the violence; instead, the situation flared up again. Within hours of the new government’s inauguration, protests erupted, roads were blocked, and markets and offices were closed.
During the swearing-in of the new Chief Minister, a black belt in the martial art Taekwondo, news emerged of an attack on one of his deputy chief ministers. Singh, a longtime leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, has also served as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and a Minister of State. He belongs to the majority Meitei community, which has had a bitter conflict with the Kuki-Zo minorities.
In the past, government has been accused of ignoring developments and leaving people to die. This month, when the government appointed Singh to lead the troubled state, many criticised it as a mere show, with the general sentiment being, “Good on the face of it, but hollow on the inside.”
In an attempt to strike a balance, the government appointed two deputy chief ministers alongside Singh, one from the Naga and one from the Kuki-Zo community. This was considered a “positive step” under the circumstances and raised hopes that at least a semblance of peace would return, but that prospect appears to be fading. Some sections of the Kuki-Zo community have condemned the inclusion of their own MLAs in the government. They allege that “their own people have defected to the enemy, the Meitei side,” which they consider a betrayal.
Amidst this widespread anger, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen has come under fire. Kipgen, the state’s first female deputy chief minister, had to be sworn in via video conferencing from Delhi for security reasons. The Kuki-Zo community has indicated they will continue their protests until their long-pending demand for a separate administration is met. They are also adamant on boycotting the MLAs who have decided to join the government. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen appealed for a bridge of the divide, calling for “dialogue, healing, and inclusive governance,” but this appeal fell flat, at least among a segment of the Kuki community.
Ginza Wualjong, a prominent Kuki-Zo leader and chief spokesperson, said, “How can we trust those who betrayed us?” Describing the situation as “far from peaceful,” he said that normalcy will not return until an agreement is reached between the Kuki and Meitei communities. According to him, “The government seems to be forcing us to accept the new government, whether we like it or not.” Wualjong and several other leaders agreed that peace is possible through dialogue, not at gunpoint. They explained that talks are ongoing with the Union Home Ministry, but the “table” cannot be held with a Meitei-led state government. They argue that such attempts have failed in the past, and therefore, they will not be engaged in negotiations now.
The Kuki-Zo community feels “cheated,” calling the joining of their MLAs in the government a move against the will of the people. It is alleged that meetings between the Kuki-Zo Council and the MLAs had agreed to stay away from the government until the state or central government met their demands. Consequently, the MLAs who joined the government are being perceived as making individual decisions “against the sentiments of the majority.”
This sentiment, combined with distrust of the Meitei-led government, deepens the conflict. Community members recall that during N. Biren Singh’s tenure, Kuki-Zo people lost their lives, were evicted from their homes, and their properties were destroyed. In such circumstances, they find it futile to expect anything from the same ruling system.
They call the new system “new wine in an old bottle,” saying that the change of Chief Minister has changed nothing, because the Meitei community, with whom they are in conflict, remains the same. According to him, the dispute is not with any one individual, but with the entire community.
It must also be acknowledged that the central government has attempted to take positive steps. By appointing a Naga leader as the Chief Minister and a Kuki leader as Deputy Chief Minister, it has attempted to reach out to all parties and heal the wounds. In such a situation, the strong objection expressed by the Kuki community is neither entirely justified nor justified. Indeed, this is only the beginning, and the process is still in its initial stages.
