Why is the Indian Government not Concerned About Its Own Sta
Why is the Indian Government not Concerned About Its Own State, Manipur?
In May 2023, a devastating ethnic conflict broke out in Manipur, one of India's northeastern states, leading to widespread violence,
displacement, and trauma.
In May 2023, a devastating ethnic conflict broke out in
Manipur, one of India's northeastern states, leading to widespread violence,
displacement, and trauma. Two years later, the region remains tense, with
frequent clashes and a fractured society. Despite the scale and duration of the
crisis, the Indian government’s response has been widely criticised as
inadequate, delayed, and indifferent. This raises a pressing question: Why is the
Indian government seemingly unconcerned about the crisis unfolding in its own
state?
A Crisis Ignored
The conflict in Manipur began as a clash between the Meitei
and Kuki-Zo communities over issues of land, identity, and political power.
Since then, more than 250 people have been killed, over 60,000 displaced, and
entire communities have been torn apart. Yet, for months, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi remained silent. His first public statement came only in July
2023—after a harrowing video of sexual violence went viral—despite the violence
erupting in May.
Even after acknowledging the crisis, Modi did not visit the
state, a decision seen by many as symbolic of the government’s detachment. Home
Minister Amit Shah eventually visited Manipur, but critics argue that his
presence did little to resolve the structural and humanitarian issues at hand.
Disparity in National Attention
Compare this with the swift response and media focus that
follow incidents in Kashmir, or even cross-border tensions with Pakistan.
Attacks in those areas often trigger immediate statements from the Prime
Minister, emergency security meetings, and wall-to-wall news coverage. In stark
contrast, Manipur—a state within the sovereign borders of India—has been met
with silence, censorship, and neglect.
This disparity suggests a deeply rooted bias in how India
views its north-eastern states. These regions are often treated as peripheral,
both geographically and politically. Their voices are underrepresented in
mainstream media, and their crises do not mobilise the same national urgency as
those in the Hindi heartland.
One reason for the central government’s muted response could
be political. Manipur is governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and
acknowledging the crisis might reflect poorly on its administration.
Furthermore, the BJP has historically lacked a strong voter base in the
Northeast compared to other regions, which may influence its level of
engagement.
Media coverage has also played a role in shaping public
perception. For weeks, major national news outlets either downplayed the
violence or focused on official narratives, rarely giving voice to those on the
ground. In-depth, independent journalism was largely absent, and social media
became the only platform where the true extent of the tragedy surfaced.
The Human Cost of Indifference
For the people of Manipur, the government’s indifference has
not just been symbolic—it has had real, devastating consequences. Relief
efforts have been slow, justice for victims is lacking, and reconciliation
remains a distant goal. The continuing tension has left an entire generation
growing up amidst fear and trauma.
Conclusion
The Indian government’s lack of concern over Manipur’s
ongoing conflict reveals a troubling truth about the nation’s internal
hierarchy of attention. When a part of the country burns and its people cry for
help, the silence from the top speaks volumes. For a democracy that prides
itself on unity in diversity, ignoring the pain of its own citizens threatens
the very fabric of that promise.
It’s time for both the government and the country to look
beyond the mainstream and confront the realities of its forgotten states.
