Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s four-day visit to violence-hit Manipur was a long-awaited one, a move many had expected earlier on, owing to the gravity of the conflict which has claimed at least 80 lives, injured hundreds of people and rendered thousands homeless. It took more bloodshed and criticism from various political parties to make the much-needed move but it is better late than never. Sporadic incidents of clashes, gun fights and arson being reported in the affected districts even after the Centre sent its security forces clearly tell that the situation is much more serious and volatile than what some have been trying to portray- that the state is returning to normalcy. Or has the state returned to normalcy? No. The fact that not many people from the hills, including Nagas want to take the risk of going to Imphal amid stray cases of attacks, including the alleged assault on four Tangkhul girls who were on their way to Imphal airport to take a flight to Mumbai on March 23; or the Meiteis fearing to take the road passing through the Kuki-dominated areas tells a lot about the actual situation. Lack of unbiased reporting of the situation from the ground, or complete lack of it could make people even more curious and anxious about the possible scenario in the state. The uncertainty in the minds of the people- fear of more aggression and vengeance is real. When the affected people lost faith in the state lawmakers and doubted if the security forces could protect them, the intervention of the central government was necessitated.
The manner in which both the warring communities – Meiteis and Kukis – welcomed Shah’s visit to the state with a relative calm indicates that people were eagerly waiting for the government of India to reassure their safety. Rhetoric and brute force can do more harm than good when emotions are high. Reassurance, dialogue and concrete measures can help bring normalcy. That’s what the people expect from the visiting union Home minister. Besides announcing compensation and job for the families of the victims as well as assuring to provide all necessary help to those in relief camps, including their safe return home, Shah toured the affected areas and met with leaders of both the warring communities. He also said that a judicial probe headed by a retired high court chief justice to inquire into clashes will be announced soon; a CBI probe to investigate FIRs alleging conspiracy behind the violence; and to set up a peace committee. It is a welcomed move, a move that will go a long way in restoring peace. However, the central and state government should not take “silence” as peace. Silence is not always golden, especially when people have no viable platform to express their grievances and when the main issues are not resolved. The Centre should ensure a fair probe into the violence and punish the culprits. Above all, it should address the main issues that led to the clashes. Failing to do so will be detrimental to peace in the state. People too should maintain utmost restraint and stop taking the law into their own hands.
