Manipur BJP MLA alleges ‘state complicity’ in the continuing violence

New Delhi: Manipur BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip alleged ‘complicity of the state’ in the ethnic violence, undercutting the BJP’s claim of having tried to solve the problem than, contrary to many blame, fueling it.

Paolienlal Haokip is among the 10 tribal MLAs who in May demanded chief minister N Biren Singh in writing a ‘separate administration for the Kuki-dominated districts’.

Writing for India Today, Haokip questioned chief minister’s terming of ethnic-violence as ‘narco terrorists’, saying that ‘Proof of state complicity can clearly be discerned from the fact that what started out as a purely ethnic-communal violence was later on attempted to be portrayed by the Chief Minister as the state's war on 'narco terrorists'’.

The 10 MLAs , including seven BJP lawmakers, alleged in their May 10 letter that BJP government had ‘tacitly supported’ majority Meitei community.

It further pointed out that chief minister rejected their demand for separate administration saying ‘the territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected’.

The 'narco terrorists' narrative, Haokip wrote, helped justifying deployment of state forces to support the ‘radicalized’ Metei militia in attacking Kuki-Zo settlements in Imphal Valley.

Another reason for the conflict according to Haokip is the simmering conflicts over rights under constitution, which dates back to the ‘pre-statehood days’.

The BJP MLA trained his guns directly at the chief minster N Biren Singh alleging that he ‘is known to be hand in glove’ with groups like Meitei Leepun and Arambai Tenggol.

Haokip alleged that these groups are ‘the main executors of the ethnic cleansing of Kuki Zo community.’

The BJP MLA didn't spare the Chief Minister too, saying he "is known to be hand in glove" with radical groups like Meitei Leepun and Arambai Tenggol, who he alleged were "the main executors of the ethnic cleansing of Kuki Zo community".