Not just Manipur: entire north-east needs a well-knit programme for peace and prosperity

On the west it is Kashmir, and now in the east it is Manipur. These are glaring examples of centre’s mishandling of the states over an extended period of time and there seems to be no clue towards a resolution of the troubles. Already, IMF has predicted a fall in India’s GDP growth in the coming year, and it might worsen if the government doesn’t act fast to bring back normalcy. The entire country is shocked and agitated over what is happening in Manipur.

- Buroshiva Dasgupta

The criminality that has been perpetrated on Kuki women in Manipur was the result of ‘fake’ news that similar things had been done on Meiteis. This was an act of revenge. There are at least 35 different tribes living in Manipur alone and neither the state administration nor the centre cared to understand their lifestyles, their aspirations, similarities and differences. The long neglect has led to frequent separation movements in Manipur and in other adjoining northeastern states. We have heard of separatists’ movements in Assam, in Mizoram, in Nagaland and even a separate ‘kukiland’ in Manipur too. The entire northeast is getting more and more fragmented because of administrative neglect.