Why netizens are sharing 'But no eyes on Manipur' slogan
What's the story
A new social media trend, "But no eyes on Manipur," is gaining traction.
This trend follows the viral "All eyes on" trend, which began with posts tagged "All eyes on Rafah" and "All eyes on Congo," protesting against atrocities around the world.
The new hashtag suggests that while international attention is focused elsewhere, violence and devastation in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur are being ignored.
Unreported violence
Manipur's unseen struggles shared on social media
The "But no eyes on Manipur" posts, shared across various social media platforms, often include news, videos, or images that users claim are not receiving nationwide media attention.
These posts not only highlight the ongoing conflicts in Manipur but also the devastation caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods.
The violence in Manipur that started last year has claimed over 220 lives and uprooted over 60,000 people who now live in camps or have sought refuge outside Manipur.
Ongoing conflict
Ethnic conflict fuels violence in Manipur
Manipur has been embroiled in ethnic violence since May 2023 after a Tribal Solidarity March was organized in the hill districts to protest the Meiteis' demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The Meiteis—who make up 53% of the population—are largely limited to the Imphal Valley.
In comparison, tribal-dominated hill areas reportedly cover 90% of Manipur.
Migration from Bangladesh and Myanmar has compounded the problem in Imphal.
This has driven Meiteis to demand ST status to have access to tribals' lands.
Twitter Post
Check out the trend here
Lal Bindi &safed sari and secular gang eyes are on Rafah, which is 5000 kilometres away and have no connection but can’t see the pain of Hindus in Pakistan, where goons are raping 12 years old girls and converting and killing!
— Sanjay Rana (@sanjay_rana9) May 30, 2024
-No eyes on Manipur? can't see the pain of 70000… pic.twitter.com/M5bK1dpzHH
Modi
Timely-intervention improved Manipur situation: PM Modi
A year later, the state continues to see sporadic violence, although Prime Minister Narendra Modi said timely intervention improved the state's situation.
When asked about the flak the Union government received for the handling of the Manipur crisis, he said, "It is our collective responsibility to deal with the situation sensitively. We have dedicated our best resources and administrative machinery to resolving the conflict."