Reports cite BJP’s state-sponsored terrorism as factor behind Kukis’ plight
Imphal : The key to understanding the Kuki community’s plight in Manipur is the BJP’s state-sponsored terrorism, according to the international media reports.
According o Kashmir Media Service, conflict between the Hindu Meitei community and Christian Kuki community killed several hundred people, destroyed thousands of homes.
The dire living conditions in Manipur, where tight security arrangements have made reconciliation impossible, serving as a warning to the rest of India. The Indian court’s decision to grant Meiteis preferential access to government jobs and tribal land, while keeping Kukis deprived, has exacerbated tensions.
Around 50,000 people, mainly Kuki Christians, live in refugee camps, struggling to survive on government stipends of INR 84 ($0.90) a day. A refugee expressed his inability to imagine living among Meiteis again, given the bloodshed he witnessed.
Kukis demand an autonomous territory, fiercely opposed by Meiteis and many in Delhi. The People’s Union for Civil Liberties, a civil-society group, claims the conflict was aggravated by “state failures.” Kukis accuse the state’s chief minister, a BJP man and a Meitei, of stoking resentment against them.
The international media reports also highlight racial discrimination faced by Kukis, labelled as illegal immigrants from Myanmar. The BJP’s hesitant attempts at restoring normality have reinforced locals’ belief that authorities in Delhi care little about their problems.
