In an interview to discuss how Manipur’s Kuki community view recent developments in the northeastern state, one of the most highly regarded Kuki politicians, who is also a BJP MLA, has said that the Arambai Tenggol is a creation of Biren Singh and Sanajaoba, the former ruler of Manipur, and it has “been created to preserve the chief minister’s position for Biren Singh”. Paolienlal Haokip added that Biren Singh uses the Arambai Tenggol to threaten the Centre. Haokip also said that today the Arambai Tenggol is more important than the state government.
Speaking about the BJP, of which he is a member, Haokip made crystal clear the sharp and deep differences between him and the chief minister. He says he’s raised these issues with the Home Minister (Amit Shah) but got no response. He added that, sadly, the Prime Minister has not found time to speak to any of the BJP’s Kuki MLAs.
However, Haokip made clear that he would not resign from the BJP because he’s determined to fight for the party’s future. At the moment, he said, the BJP in Manipur has been appropriated by a particular ethnic group, by which he meant the Meiteis.
I am only identifying the key main points. There are many others but I think you should hear them from Haokip himself. I do not want to run the risk of conveying the wrong impression of his views through a precis or paraphrase. He has been courageous and outspoken, no doubt at considerable cost to himself, and I do not want to even inadvertently add to his problems by conveying the wrong impression of his position. So please watch this interview yourself.
However, I will give you the list of questions asked which were followed meticulously. They will indicate the issues raised and help you understand the interview.
Here are the questions:
1) The Manipur Assembly has passed a resolution calling upon the central government “to completely abrogate the SoO pact with all the Kuki-Zo militant groups”. It wants this done “in the interest of ensuring peace and security in the region”. As a member of the Assembly and as a member of the BJP how do you respond to this?
2) In his message on X Chief Minister Biren Singh claimed the resolution was passed “unanimously”. But if all ten Kuki-Zo MLAs were not present in the Assembly is he correct to call it unanimous?
3) How did the ten Naga MLAs vote? I presume they were present and voted in favour. Am I right?
Are differences between the Kuki-Zo and the Nagas emerging?
4) Now in a press release that the ten Kuki MLAs issued you pointed out that a Joint Monitoring Group exists to oversee the agreement. In your press release you asked: “We would like to question whether the resolution adopted by the august House was passed on any report or observations of the JMG, which is the only official mechanism to determine whether any violation of the ground rules has taken place or not.” What’s your answer to that question?
5) Days after this resolution calling for the abrogation of the SoO agreement, the Manipur Assembly reaffirmed an earlier resolution of 2022 calling for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens in Manipur. How do you respond to that?
6) In his message on X this is what the Chief Minister said: “NRC is crucial for safeguarding the interests of our state and contributing to the greater good of our nation.” He’s your party leader. How do you respond to that?
7) The paradox is whilst the Biren Singh government is pushing to scrap the SoO agreements it’s also allowing the Arambai Tenggol to become a law unto themselves and defy the police. A recent statement by the police accuses Arambai Tenggol of “many anti-social activities such as assaulting civilians and snatching vehicles”. The police also say they are “involved in extortion”. Last month the Tenggol abducted an Additional Superintendent of Police because its Sekmai unit Chief was arrested for allegedly snatching a vehicle from a petrol pump. How do you respond to all of this?
8) The police have told The Hindu that “our hands are tied. We are stopped from taking action against the miscreants.” Why is your Chief Minister not acting?
9) A second worrying development concerns the United National Liberation Front. After they signed a peace agreement in November, it was intended they would be kept in camps and monitored by central agencies. But The Hindu says they are roaming around in vehicles, brandishing weapons, indulging in violence against security forces and looting police armouries. Once again, why has your Chief Minister not done anything to stop this?
10) It seems as if Biren Singh has two aims – to scupper the SoO agreement, which would upset the Kuki-Zo community, and give a free hand to Arambai Tenggol and UNLF, which would please the Meitei community. Am I mistaken or am I right?
11) Let’s focus on you before we end. You have sharp differences with Biren Singh and your Meitei colleagues in the BJP. Why have you not resigned from the BJP?
12) Have you raised your concerns directly with Amit Shah? And if you have, what’s the answer?
