AIZAWL: In a vehement rebuttal, Mizoram's sole representative in the Rajya Sabha, K Vanlalvena, sharply criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent parliamentary statement labeling tribal community members in Manipur as Myanmar nationals. Vanlalvena refuted Shah's assertion, asserting that the Manipur tribals have inhabited the northeastern region for more than two centuries, predating British colonization and India's independence.
Vanlalvena, an indigenous tribal from Mizoram, asserted that their identity is unequivocally Indian, not foreign or Myanmarese. He emphasized that their historical presence in the region significantly precedes India's modern establishment.
Simultaneously, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), a coalition representing diverse recognized Kuki tribes in Manipur, expressed profound disappointment with Shah's remarks. The ITLF's statement highlighted the grim aftermath of three months of violence, which has tragically claimed the lives of over 130 Kuki-Zo tribals and displaced a staggering 41,425 tribal civilians. The conflict has also led to the emotional and physical estrangement between Meteis and tribals.
The ITLF vehemently contested Shah's attribution of the violence to refugees from Myanmar, contending that Mizoram, having generously welcomed over 40,000 refugees and displaced individuals from Manipur, remains one of India's most peaceful states. The forum attributed the deepening trust deficit between the Metei and tribal communities to various factors, including the majority community's pursuit of Scheduled Tribe status, contested government land policies, and the demonization of tribals by Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and certain radical Metei intellectuals.
The forum condemned the act of blaming refugees, among the most vulnerable segments of any society, for igniting such large-scale conflict. The ITLF expressed astonishment at Shah's continued support for Chief Minister Biren Singh, whom they perceived as a central figure in the violence. The statement lamented the loss of innocent lives under Singh's leadership and underscored the ongoing unabated violence.
Critically, the forum beseeched the Home Minister to transcend partisan politics in his approach to resolving the Manipur crisis. As the region grapples with persistent violence and discord, the call for unity and constructive intervention remains paramount.
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