Open interaction with Kuki inmates Notching up a first
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How can Manipur return to normalcy without talks ? This question is critical for people on either side of the clash divide, particularly those who have emerged as self proclaimed champions of the community they purport to represent, and this is where it becomes crucial to acknowledge the observation of a Kuki village chief, the inter- view of whose has been shown on the social media. ‘How can resettlement/normalcy be possible without a dialogue’ is the line struck by the said village chief and the profundity of this observation cannot be brushed aside. The observation of the said Kuki village chief also could not have come at a more opportune moment, coming as it did close on the heels of the ‘impromptu’ visit of MLA Yumnam Khemchand to a relief centre set up for the displaced Kuki folks at Litan in Ukhrul district. The first by a Meitei MLA, correction by a man belonging to the Meitei community, to a relief centre housing displaced Kuki folks and this is precisely the reason why the visit came out as the lead news story in all the Imphal based newspapers on December 9. As expected and not surprisingly, a number of nay sayers have emerged, particularly from the side of different Kuki organisations, seeking to downplay the importance of the visit, with some even going to the extent of asserting that the visit did not have the sanction of the Kuki people. On the Meitei side, no single organisation has come out against the visit of the MLA to the Kuki relief centre, but at the same time it is significant to note the silence of the many organisations which have been at the forefront batting for Manipur. How things proceed is something only time can tell, but it is significant to note that a BJP MLA took it upon himself to extend the healing touch, a gesture that should go down well with the people on either side of the clash divide. Many may see a political angle in the visit of the MLA but the bottomline is, for the first time since violence erupted in all its ugliness on May 3, 2023, a Meitei entered a relief centre of the Kukis and interacted with them. The visit of the MLA may also come as something unannounced to the people, but it should be obvious that some spadework must have been done in advance. This is where the role of Tangkhul social and political leaders should be acknowledged and noted. The very presence of a senior Tangkhul leader in the visit to the relief centre says something significant and the position adopted by some at the relief centre that they were not informed of the visit earlier should be rubbished. No one in his right mind would visit a relief centre of the ‘other’ without some sort of a communication, even if that communication may have been via a third party. Opposing the visit for the sake of opposing will not cut ice and is not what the situation warrants. This is where one is reminded of the slogan coined by CoTU and ITLF in the early days of the violence, ‘Peace later, solution first.’
For those who want to see normalcy, Yumnam Khemchand will stand as the man of the moment. A man who happens to be an MLA, but who took it upon himself to do the unthinkable, for who would have thought that a Meitei, that too a political figure, would visit a relief centre opened for the displaced Kukis. People staying at relief centres are the ones who were the first to be impacted by the violence, those who were driven out from the place they once called home and it is them who the BJP MLA from Singjamei Assembly Constituency visited, interacted and rung out the message of peace and reconciliation. One wonders whether Delhi has taken note of the visit, but something positive can definitely be built from this and taken to the next level. Can avenues be explored to see if more such interactions can be made possible in the coming days ? An idea definitely worth pursuing. This is where one is left wondering what has happened to the few meetings that the Centre had arranged with CSOs from either side at Delhi some time back ? Shouldn’t the meetings continue or is it a case of ‘nothing much left to discuss ?’ As noted, the possible role taken by the Tangkhul CSOs of Ukhrul in making the visit possible should not be brushed aside and this is where Raj Bhavan will need to study how the service of the NPF MLAs may be utilised to bring the two sides to a broader understanding. Let the NPF MLAs get in touch with the Kuki MLAs to explore how things may be taken further.
For those who want to see normalcy, Yumnam Khemchand will stand as the man of the moment. A man who happens to be an MLA, but who took it upon himself to do the unthinkable, for who would have thought that a Meitei, that too a political figure, would visit a relief centre opened for the displaced Kukis. People staying at relief centres are the ones who were the first to be impacted by the violence, those who were driven out from the place they once called home and it is them who the BJP MLA from Singjamei Assembly Constituency visited, interacted and rung out the message of peace and reconciliation. One wonders whether Delhi has taken note of the visit, but something positive can definitely be built from this and taken to the next level. Can avenues be explored to see if more such interactions can be made possible in the coming days ? An idea definitely worth pursuing. This is where one is left wondering what has happened to the few meetings that the Centre had arranged with CSOs from either side at Delhi some time back ? Shouldn’t the meetings continue or is it a case of ‘nothing much left to discuss ?’ As noted, the possible role taken by the Tangkhul CSOs of Ukhrul in making the visit possible should not be brushed aside and this is where Raj Bhavan will need to study how the service of the NPF MLAs may be utilised to bring the two sides to a broader understanding. Let the NPF MLAs get in touch with the Kuki MLAs to explore how things may be taken further.