Editorial

IIE DIGITAL DESK :The situation in Manipur has long crossed the threshold of a local conflict and has evolved into a national crisis that reflects a disturbing failure of governance, accountability, and empathy. Since violence erupted in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, the northeastern state has been reeling from ethnic strife, human displacement, and political silence. Over 60,000 people have been displaced, more than 250 lives lost, hundreds of villages destroyed, and the region remains deeply scarred by communal hatred. Throughout this turmoil, the government—both at the state and central level—has failed to respond with the urgency, clarity, and compassion the crisis so desperately demands.

From the beginning, the response of the Manipur government under Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has been inadequate, and in many ways, complicit. Accusations have emerged suggesting selective protection of communities, biased policing, and uneven relief distribution. The administration has appeared more interested in controlling the narrative than controlling the violence. The Supreme Court itself, in scathing observations, said there was a complete breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state and questioned the neutrality of law enforcement agencies. Despite the gravity of the situation, there has been no imposition of President’s Rule, no all-party delegation visit until very late, and no clear roadmap for reconciliation and justice.

The central government's inaction has been even more glaring. Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained silent for over two months after the violence broke out, speaking publicly only after immense public pressure following the surfacing of a disturbing video of two women paraded naked. Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state after weeks had passed, and while meetings were held, they translated into few tangible outcomes. The political leadership's disinterest in sustained engagement with the affected people has only deepened the alienation felt by citizens of Manipur. In the face of visible human rights violations, brutal killings, and widespread arson, the central government’s detachment has been not only disappointing but shocking.

The humanitarian consequences have been catastrophic. Thousands are still living in relief camps under appalling conditions. Children have lost access to education, families have lost homes, and women have faced targeted violence. Yet there has been no coordinated effort from the government to provide long-term rehabilitation. Relief efforts have largely come from civil society organizations, churches, and student unions. The internet shutdown, which continued for several months, left people disconnected from essential services and information, a tactic that may have further enabled human rights abuses away from public scrutiny.

Beyond the humanitarian and security dimensions, the crisis in Manipur poses a severe threat to India's federal and constitutional integrity. Article 355 of the Indian Constitution empowers the Union to protect states against external aggression and internal disturbance, but the Centre has done little to exercise this responsibility. The fact that the violence continued for months without a coherent central intervention raises questions about selective federalism and political will. The silence of institutions that otherwise act swiftly in other states suggests that Manipur is being treated as politically expendable.

At the heart of this crisis is not just communal violence, but an alarming disregard for democratic norms, human rights, and inclusive governance. The victims are not just the displaced people of Manipur but the very idea of India as a just and secular republic. Unless the government—both state and central—undertakes honest introspection and structural course correction, the wounds of Manipur will fester, and its consequences will reverberate far beyond the hills and valleys of the northeast.