Hill-valley rift widens in Manipur

The present crisis in Manipur has widened the hill-valley divide with the Kukis, who traditionally stay in the hills, vouching for a separate administration as the only solution to the present crisis, while the Meiteis, who are dominant in the valley, opposing any kind of division or separate administrative arrangement.

The unprecedented violence since May 3 has resulted in large-scale displacement of people. The Meiteis residing in the hills have come back to the valley and the Kukis living in the valley have moved back to the hills and the trust deficit between the two geographical groups has further widened.

The hill-valley divide or the development inequality has always been an engaging political debate. There are 10 areas in northeast India which come under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution under which the rights of the tribals are protected. However, despite a sizeable presence of tribals in Manipur, there are no such 'sixth schedule areas' in the state.

Recently, students of Churachandpur Medical College expressed their distress and demanded a secure place with proper law and order where they can continue their course. These students are pursuing their first-year MBBS course. They are the first batch of the college which was inaugurated by Union home minister Amit Shah on January 6. Out of 100 students in the first batch, around 60 students hail from the valley region.

Ten Kuki MLAs had demanded a separate administration in Manipur. These MLAs, who have jointly sought a separate administration, include seven BJP MLAs, two KPA MLAs, and an Independent MLA.

The Kuki MLAs alleged the violence was perpetrated by the majority Meitei community and was "tacitly supported" by the BJP-run state government.

"As Manipur has miserably failed to protect us, we seek from the Union of India a separate administration under the constitution of India and live peacefully as neighbours," the MLAs said in a statement.

"Our people can no longer exist under Manipur as the hatred against our tribal community reached such a height that MLAs, ministers, pastors, police and civil officers, laymen, women and even children were not spared, not to mention the destruction of places of worships, homes and properties," the MLAs said in a statement.

The hills account for 90% of area and 10% population while the valley occupies 10% land.

Of the 60 assembly seats, the valley accounts for 40 assembly seats. There are Hindus and non-tribal Meitei communities in the valley while the hills are inhabited largely by the Christian Naga and Kuki-Zomi communities.

Union minister of state for External Affairs and MP from inner Manipur constituency Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, in a letter to the PM, stated that even after independence the barrier between the hills and valley continues because of Article 371 C. This article deals with special provision with respect to the hill areas of Manipur. "Generations were bound to think that we belong to different categories," he felt.

"It is high time to do away with this mechanical division," he had suggested.