Mr Biren Seems to be Desperate to Save His Chair. But Who Cares?

The Meitei chief minister Mr. N. Biren Singh said to the press today that his government has been trying to bring peace by looking for a middle path, but from now onward, they [the Kukis?] will be shown that there is a state government. Anybody who understands Manipuri (Meitei language) must be asking themselves what the hell is he talking about!

Since day one of the current ethnic cleansing pogrom, Mr Biren and some of his cabinet colleagues including the lone Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba has been leading the radicalised Meitei sections and its armed militias such as Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun, and others, in attacking the Kuki villages in the periphery areas. On more than one occasion, including Phailengmol Area (Khamenlok), Mr Biren even visited the site physically and witnessed the burning and destruction of houses and churches belonging to the Kukis in more than ten villages.

It may also be noted that Mr Biren had repeatedly appealed to his [Meitei] people to let his government handle the situation. He has also been saying time and again that whatever he does is for the future of their motherland [read Meitei community] and not for his personal gain.

Now that more than 13 months have passed without any sign of peace returning to the state, this Little Demon once again seems to be haunted by the fear of losing his chair in the face of mounting pressures. Regarding this, there are two points worth noting: first, there are several rebel MLAs from his own community who want a change of guard; and second, he is under pressure for the poor performance of the BJP candidate in the Lok Sabha elections despite giving free hands to his private militias including the Arambai Tenggols.

For years, Mr Biren has been portraying himself as the champion of the cause of the Meitei community but slowly the tide has begun to turn against him. The poor show in the election shows that he is neither accepted by his own people nor by the majority of the Meitei MLAs.

It also appears to be that the silent majority within the Meitei community who have been death-scared to speak out have now spoken loud enough by giving a negative vote to the BJP candidate. In fact, the percentage of votes polled for the BJP and its allies in the Outer Manipur clearly says that Biren had failed not just the Kukis but also the Meiteis for whom he projected himself as a Hero. The hatred towards Mr Biren extended to the Outer Manipur constituency as the NPF candidate, an alliance partner of BJP, was voted by a very small percentage of the voters in the eight valley Assembly Constituencies that are part of Outer Manipur.

Any critical minds who could analyse the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections wouldn't find it difficult to comprehend that the majority voters from the Valley did not vote for the Congress but against the BJP and its allies. If it were not, the Meitei voters from the 8 ACs will never vote for the same candidate whom the Kuki-Zo voters have voted for en masse!

The voting pattern also shows that the less communal Meiteis still care for their beloved state which has been torn apart by Mr Biren and his cohorts. In fact, the social fabric of a state where every ethnic community lives together for centuries has been destroyed by Mr Biren and his nazy-like militias.

Now, looking at the chain of events that unfold in the last few weeks, it is pretty clear that Mr. Biren is desperate to save his chair as he is under pressure not only from his own Meitei community and rebel MLAs but also from the BJP Central leadership. The timing and the manner in which he made a plan to visit Jiribam, how his advance escorts were sent through the Imphal-Jiri road where even the IRB personnel for election duty dare not travel, and how he reacted to the alleged ambush on his advance security by unknown miscreants, all pointed towards the same goal: seeking public sympathy to retain his chair!

While saying this, let us not forget the resignation drama in which a paper was torn into pieces by a mysterious old lady! At the moment, the Kuki-Zo people are no longer concerned whether Mr Biren continues as the chief minister, or not. Because they have taken a firm stand that they will fight against such injustice meted out to them by the present communal government till their last man stands. Replacing Mr Biren may do some good to the right thinking Meiteis, but it will make no difference to the Kuki-Zo who have suffered enough from the year-long state-sponsored ethnic pogrom under his chief-ministership.

By Anthony Shongthu 

(Courtesy: KSO Bulletin, Thingkho le Malcha, Issue No. 256, 10 June 2024).