BY Gunlien Kuki (@fa
The removal of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and the imposition of President’s Rule in the state were not just necessary steps—they were inevitable. Biren Singh was not merely a failed administrator; he was an active participant in the systematic persecution of the KukiZos. Under his watch, an ethnic pogrom unfolded, turning Manipur into a killing field where homes were torched, churches desecrated, and innocent civilians lynched in broad daylight. His resignation, though long overdue, is not the end of the struggle for justice—it is merely the beginning.
Yet, his removal alone does not undo the horrors of May 3, 2023, and the months that followed. The KukiZos did not demand a separate administration from the outset. For years, they placed their faith in political agreements like the Suspension of Operations (SoO), believing that peaceful coexistence was possible within a unified Manipur. But the brutal reality of ethnic cleansing forced upon them a choice they never wished to make: either continue living under Meitei hegemony, vulnerable to future persecution, or demand a separate administration where their safety, dignity, and rights are
guaranteed.
This is not a demand for secession. It is a plea for survival.
Why Biren Singh’s Removal Was Inevitable—But Not Enough
For those who argue that Biren Singh’s resignation signals the beginning of healing, let
us be clear—he was not the disease; he was a symptom of a deeper, systemic rot. The entire state machinery of Manipur has, for decades, functioned as an instrument of Meitei dominance. From economic discrimination to political marginalization, the hill tribes, especially the KukiZos, have been treated as second-class citizens.
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When the violence began, Biren Singh did not just fail to stop it—he enabled it. He justified the bloodshed with incendiary rhetoric, emboldening Meitei mobs to carry out unthinkable atrocities. Under his rule, the state police became a partisan force, arming and aiding those who sought to wipe out an entire community. His ouster was not an act of justice but a necessary course correction.
However, justice is not served by removing one man while leaving the oppressive
system intact. The suspension of the Manipur Legislative Assembly under President’s
Rule is a step in the right direction, but it is not a solution. The very institutions that allowed this ethnic cleansing remain in place. Expecting the KukiZos to reintegrate into
this system is akin to asking them to place their necks back under the executioner’s
blade.
Why the KukiZos Were Forced to Demand Separate Administration
Before the events of May 3, 2023, the KukiZos had never pursued a separate
administration as a political necessity. The signing of the SoO agreement was an affirmation of their willingness to work within the framework of a unified Manipur under the Indian Union. But that faith was shattered when their homes were razed, their women brutalized, and their people slaughtered—while the state government either stood idle or actively participated in their suffering.
Let the truth be acknowledged: the forced displacement of KukiZos from Imphal was not
just an outbreak of violence—it was an orchestrated attempt to erase their existence from the political and social fabric of Manipur. If the KukiZos were truly considered an
integral part of the state, their safety would have been the government’s foremost
priority. Instead, they were expelled, their properties seized, and their voices silenced.
The demand for separate administration is not about revenge; it is about ensuring that such horrors never repeat. It is about creating a governance structure where the KukiZos are not at the mercy of an administration that has already demonstrated its willingness to turn a blind eye—or worse, actively facilitate—genocide.
Why Coexistence Under the Same Administration Is No Longer Possible
The illusion of a unified Manipur has been permanently shattered. Even before the conflict, development funds were disproportionately allocated to the valley while the hills remained deprived. KukiZo areas were systematically neglected, their voices dismissed in policy-making, and their concerns trivialized. But the events post-May 3 went far beyond discrimination—they exposed the existential threat posed by Meitei hegemony.
If coexistence were possible, why were KukiZos driven out of Imphal? Why were their homes burned to the ground while Meitei leaders watched in silence? Why did the state police aid the attackers instead of protecting the victims? The answer is simple—because Manipur, as it currently exists, is a Meitei-majority state where KukiZos are seen as dispensable.
No community can be expected to return to an administration that failed—no, refused—
to protect them. The demand for separate administration is not a separatist aspiration; it is a protective necessity. The KukiZos do not seek to leave India—they seek a
governance structure that ensures they remain within it, with the same rights and dignity as any other Indian citizen.
Why Separate Administration Under the Indian Union Is the Only Viable Solution
The Government of India must recognize the undeniable truth: Manipur, as it stands today, is beyond repair. There is no amount of political maneuvering or peace talks that can rebuild the trust that has been lost. The only path forward is to carve out a separate administrative entity for the KukiZos—one that operates under the Indian Union but free from the control of the Meitei-dominated state government.
This is not a radical demand. India’s Constitution provides for regional autonomy under
various provisions. The creation of a Union Territory with a legislature or direct central governance is well within constitutional limits. More importantly, it is a moral imperative.
To ensure justice and long-term peace, the Centre must take decisive steps:
- Permanent Dissolution of the Manipur Legislative Assembly: The Meitei-majority legislature has proven itself incapable of ensuring justice. Its continued existence only reinforces ethnic dominance.
- Carving Out a Separate Administration for the KukiZos: Whether as a Union Territory or under direct Central rule, this is the only way to guarantee that they are never again subjected to the whims of a hostile majority.
- Accountability for the Violence: True peace is impossible without justice. Those
who orchestrated and participated in the ethnic cleansing—whether politicians, police officials, or armed mobs—must be brought to justice.
Never Again Under Meitei Rule
Enough is enough. The KukiZos will never again be governed under an administration that abandoned them in their darkest hour. They will not be placated by empty promises of reconciliation, nor will they accept a political arrangement that leaves them vulnerable to future atrocities.
The road to lasting peace does not lie in a forced reintegration under a failed state—it lies in granting the KukiZos the self-governance they were forced to demand. Only then can justice be served. Only then can true peace prevail.
