The Meiteis, a minority group in Manipur and the North-Eastern part of India, have been falsely accused of attacking the minority Christian community and the Kuki Tribe. The Chennai Manipuri community has issued a press release denying these claims and condemning the spread of false and fabricated stories.
According to the press release, the Western media and some MPs have discussed tolerance and labeled the ongoing ethnic clashes in Manipur as religious cleansing, accusing the Hindu Meiteis of attacking the Kuki Christians. The Chennai Manipuri community urges these entities to focus on resolving the issues in their own countries, as their communal attitudes towards other religions are well-known. The press release emphasizes that calling themselves saints does not prove their saintliness.
In Manipur, the Meiteis are a diverse group consisting of Meitei Sanamahi, Meitei Vaishnavite, Meitei Christian, and Meitei Pangal (Muslim) communities. In the limited 6% of land available in the 10% area of Imphal valley, after excluding Loktak Lake, KeibulLamjao National Park, rivers, and unused land, the Meiteis coexist with various other communities, including Tamilians, Bengalis, Nepalis, Assamese, Biharis, Telugus, Malayalees, Marwaris, Oriyas, Punjabis, Nagas, Koms, and Kuki tribes. The ongoing violence is not a religious conflict between Hindus and Christians, but rather a result of narco-terrorism and the presence of unauthorized immigrants, both of which have heightened tensions in Manipur. It is important to understand that this is not a fight based on religion, but rather a problem where one group is causing harm to another.
The press release highlights that the majority Christian community, the Kukis, have vandalized eight churches and around 200 houses belonging to the minority Meitei Christian community during the violence.
The shocking aspect is the vandalization and arson of Meitei churches by Kuki Christians in different parts of Manipur. The Kuki community has not spared Christians and their churches, which belong to the Meitei community.
To prevent the influx of unwanted foreign immigrants, it is crucial to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and construct border fences as soon as possible. The Chennai Manipuri Community strongly condemns the burning of both churches and temples by both Meitei and Kuki miscreants. They call for dialog and a peaceful resolution while remaining committed to truth, peace, and unity.