'Those responsible to establish peace is fuelling riots in Manipur': Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

About two months ago, on May 3, in Churachandpur town, Kuki organisations demonstrated against a plan to give the Meitei community scheduled tribe status. This is when the unrest in Manipur started. Conflicts ensuing from this resulted in more than 50,000 injuries and over 150 fatalities.

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday (July 22) lashed out at the Centre for its failure to control the situation in Manipur. He said that those responsible to establish peace in the state is fuelling the riots. 

In a Facebook post, the Chief Minister wrote, "There are terrible reports coming out from Manipur every day. One can only view the ethnic disturbances, which have lasted for more than two months, with concern. Scenes of horror are emerging that continue to trouble the human conscience. The women of the Kuki community were brutally and disgustingly pursued by mob rioters. Now that the riots have started, footage from before has been made public."

"Manipur's historical disputes between residents of the hills and the valley are stoked by local politics. It is obvious that a premeditated Christian hunt is underway while appearing to be in revolt. Tribal groups' Christian churches are constantly attacked and destroyed."

CM Vijayan alleged, "According to some reports, those who are in charge of reestablishing peace are actually attempting to instigate disturbances. Strong criticism has been levelled at the Central government for being silent on the Manipur problem and the Sangh Parivar agenda. Democrats have a responsibility to oppose and thwart deliberate efforts to deepen caste polarization. The nation's secular society should be aware of Sangh Parivar's plan, which involves sowing division and escalating disturbances in Manipur in order to advance its political objectives."