"No Balkanisation On Ethnic Lines": Union Minister Writes To PM On Manipur
NDTV
Manipur ethnic violence: "If some shrewd minds are trying to create a political demarcation through such heinous crimes, such plans should never be made successful. They can't bluff the Union Government by putting up a game plan," Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh said in the letter
Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, the Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the threat of "Balkanisation on ethnic lines" in Manipur. The BJP MP, whose Lok Sabha constituency is Inner Manipur, asked the Prime Minister to "curb and control" with "a strong hand" any attempt at breaking up the northeast state, where 35 ethnic groups live.
Over 70 people have died since May 3 in clashes between the Meiteis, who live in and around the state capital Imphal valley, and the Kuki tribe, who are settled in the hills, over the valley residents' demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. Following this, 10 tribal MLAs in BJP-ruled Manipur wrote a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding a separate administration for tribals within the state, saying they "cannot live together anymore."
"From May 3 and for a few days there was complete chaos and trust vanished into thin air between the two communities - Meiteis and Kukis. In complete dismay and frustration, Kuki leaders including their MLAs have started demanding a separate political administration for their people. Perhaps they are under tremendous pressure from various quarters including militants," Mr Singh said in the letter sent to PM Modi on Saturday.
"This is a very dangerous proposition for a tiny state having 35 ethnic groups. Peaceful co-existence should be the norm. Naga-Kuki conflict, Meitei-Pangan (Muslim) clash and now Meitei-Kuki riot must be treated as aberrations. These should be curbed and controlled by a strong hand. No Balkanisation on ethnic lines should be encouraged at any cost," the Minister of State for External Affairs said in the letter.
