Don't brush Manipur under the rug

Manipur is no longer in the spotlight. But it remains on simmer. Incidents in early April - including a blast that killed a 4-yr-old and his 6-mth-old sister - underscore how fragile the situation is. Meitei-Kuki tensions stretch back to the 1890s, when the princely state came under British protection and the divide-and-rule policy hardened social cleavages. Today, failure of GoI-appointed commission of inquiry to submit its report - despite 3 yrs and 4 extensions - has stalled any meaningful process of healing or institutional repair.

The conflict is a slow, combustible mix of history, land, identity and political power. Successive governments have managed it through a colonial-style equilibrium, maintaining a tense balance rather than addressing root causes. Trigger for the April 2023 violence was a Manipur High Court directive, asking the state to consider granting ST status to Meiteis. Constituting about 53% of the population and classified as OBC, Meiteis dominate the Imphal Valley. Kukis, who are STs, inhabit the hill districts that cover nearly 90% of the state's geography. Extending ST status to Meiteis would alter this balance, intensifying fears over land and political representation.

Relief camps still house thousands. Economic activity is uneven. While the inquiry report can't undo past violence, it can identify administrative failures and assign responsibility. It could also enable structural reforms: disarmament, a credible and representative peace mechanism, a calibrated approach to the ST demand that safeguards hill rights while addressing valley pressures, and a truth-and-reconciliation process. Sustainable progress will depend on confronting the past with clarity. The commission must submit its report without further delay.