Manipur Assembly's first session after violence, tribal MLAs to boycott
The Manipur Assembly is reportedly convening on Tuesday for the first time since violent clashes erupted in May, with the one-day session focusing on the current ethnic crisis in Manipur. However, there will be no question hour or private member motion, and 10 MLAs from the Kuki-Zomi tribal community will likely skip the session due to safety concerns, per PTI. The Kuki-Zomi tribal bodies have also rejected the session, saying the situation was not conducive to it.
Why does this story matter?
Around 180 people have reportedly died in Manipur since May 3 following a protest by the Kukis against the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status demands of the majority Meiteis. Meiteis—constituting 53% of Manipur's population—are worried about the restrictions on their settlement in the hilly areas of the state and alleged illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh. On the other hand, tribal Kukis and Nagas—almost 40% of the population—are concerned about losing their hold on ancestral lands.
Session aims to address ethnic crisis
According to Manipur Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, expectations for the session include addressing the ongoing ethnic crisis, NDTV reported. However, tribal bodies have stated that no resolution adopted by the assembly will be binding in Kuki areas. The Congress party had already termed the session "not in the public interest." Union minister BL Verma reaffirmed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's stand that the situation in Manipur was "firmly under control" despite recent incidents of violence.
Government revises crucial assembly session dates
The government initially recommended an assembly session by August 21 but later revised it to Tuesday (August 29). Governor Anusuiya Uikey initially did not heed Chief Minister N Biren Singh's request to hold the session. But she eventually did, probably to save the state from going to President's Rule. Notably, an assembly session must be convened within six months from the last sitting, according to Article 174 of the Constitution of India. Manipur's last assembly session was held in March.
Mixed reactions to assembly reconvening
The Manipur Assembly's decision to reconvene attracted mixed reactions. Some believed it was necessary to address the ongoing crisis. In contrast, opposition parties argued it wasn't in the public interest. The Kuki-Zomi organizations, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) denounced it, saying the situation was unsafe for tribal MLAs to attend. Meanwhile, Manipur minister Sapam Ranjan Singh said, "There cannot be any separate (Kuki) administration, and the government is clear on this stand."
Know about recent violence
In a fresh incidence of violence, three houses were set ablaze and assault weapons were snatched from security forces in Imphal on Sunday. The incident happened only two days before the assembly session in trouble-hit Manipur. The fresh flare-up escalated tensions in the northeastern state and strained the fragile peace. The state government has been negotiating a middle ground against the backdrop of confrontations between the Meiteis and Kukis, which left at least 180 people dead and around 50,000 displaced.
