Just before the 2017 Manipur legislative assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came down to Imphal on February 25 and promised to end all bandh and blockades in the state including the crippling 139-day economic blockade in Manipur if the BJP comes to power in the state and said what the Congress could not do in 15 years, the BJP will do in 15 months.
The economic blockade was called by the United Naga Council (UNC) against the creation of seven new districts including Kangpokpi by the previous Congress regime led by O Ibobi Singh. Just as promised, after the formation of a BJP-led government, the economic blockade was withdrawn on March 19. The people breathed a sigh of relief, but remained sceptical of how the agreement was reached. Well, the government order creating the seven new districts was not rolled back and continued with its functioning.
On the other hand, the Naga People's Front (NPF) became a part of the new government led by BJP and it was more or less forgotten. NPF still continues to be part of the BJP-led government although BJP gained a majority in the assembly after the 2022 elections. The Kukis had even wondered about the agreement with UNC.
Meanwhile, the resolution of the 600-day long shutdown of Churachandpur district, regarding three contentious bills passed by the Manipur assembly in relation to the Inner Line Permit system, took a little time and manoeuvring. On May 10, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the organisation spearheading the protests and the state government.
When the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition took power in Manipur last March, the committee made a new demand: make Lamka, which covers Churachandpur town and adjoining areas, a full-fledged district. The memorandum of understanding signed on May 10 “acknowledges the demand of creation of a new district”, and promises compensation and employment to the kin of the victims of the 2015 agitation.
Additionally, the state government promised to “extend all help and cooperation in tripartite talks” with underground insurgent groups that are currently observing a Suspension of Operation (SoO) and the central government. Thus, BJP fulfilled the promises made before the elections. The real understanding with Churachandpur groups on May 10 was never made known to the public.
In 2019, BJP gave the party ticket for the Outer Manipur parliamentary seat to one Shokhopao Benjamin Mate who came from one of the smaller tribes of the Kuki-Zo group, but a BJP man. He lost to the NPF candidate Lorho S Pfoze, as he could not consolidate the Kuki-Zo votes. In 2022 state assembly elections, the Kuki-Zo fraternity was able to increase its tally of MLAs from nine to 10 among which seven were from BJP.
In 2017, there was only one Kuki minister in the state Cabinet but it was increased to two in 2022 and both were from Kuki group while the other tribes in the fold got zero representation in the Cabinet. After the communal clashes broke out in May, 2023, a Kuki outfit cried foul of BJP for going back on its words and assurances to the Kuki-Zo community.
The outfit leader also claimed that money had changed hands. Well, the Congress regime was forced to join the tripartite agreement with Kuki outfits which they had already signed with the Central government. But after coming to power in 2017, the state BJP leadership did nothing about it while agreeing to “extend all help and cooperation in tripartite talks” and there was no talk of its abrogation then. And now, some BJP elements are talking about the need to elect the BJP candidate from Inner Manipur so that peace and normalcy could return to the state. The question is, what if the BJP candidate is defeated? Will the chaos and mayhem continue? Well, Home Minister Amit Shah is coming on Monday and everyone is waiting for his word.
