Many have warned the government about the long-term consequences of politics driven by hatred and have urged them to foster trust and understanding among all communities. However, some die-hard supporters of Modi have failed to grasp the importance of building goodwill among different communities in the country.
The violence in Manipur is a clear example of what can happen when there is a lack of trust among communities. A judgment in favor of Hindu Meitis has led to conflict between Kukis and Meitis. Consequently, Manipur has been engulfed in violence for the past month, despite appeals for peace from the Home Minister. The Kukis and Meitis are fighting and destroying each other's properties.
A retired Lt Gen, who resides in Manipur, recently remarked, "I'm just an ordinary Indian from Manipur living a retired life. The state is now 'stateless'. Life and property can be destroyed anytime by anyone, just like in Libya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Syria, etc. It appears Manipur has been left to stew in its own juice. Is anyone listening?" This highlights the need for attention to the voices of Manipur amidst the larger context of unheard protests by young women in Delhi.
Promoting hatred only deepens bias in a leader's image. Advocating for Hindutva causes further divisions in society and brings more trouble for the common man, the nation, and society as a whole, leading to a vicious cycle of blame and violence.
Why is nobody listening? Why are the Central Police forces ineffective? How did this dispute transform into a conflict between Meiti Hindus and Christian tribals? What is the potential for this feud to spread like wildfire to other North Eastern states?
The government must listen to the voices of reason from Manipur and urgently find a solution. However, the current leadership, including Mr. Modi, Mr. Shah, and many other ministers who have aligned themselves with the Hindutva cause, have lost credibility among minorities—tribals, Christians, Muslims, and Sikhs—who are as Indian as anyone else. This unfortunate loss of credibility hampers the government's ability to resolve such conflicts, as minorities are unlikely to see them as nonpartisan, unbiased, neutral, and fair mediators.
The more the government indulges in the politics of hatred, the more challenging it will be to handle internal violence. The trust deficit will continue to widen. While the deployment of security forces may reduce violence in Manipur over time, it cannot heal the wounds caused by suspicion and lack of trust. As far as Tribals are concerned - There is very little difference between the image of CM of Manipur and the Home Minister of India.
As a concerned citizen, I can only pray that the government learns from these experiences and refrains from engaging in hate politics. . Today, Manipur might seem to be distant but Hatred only needs a spark to ignite into a wildfire, as we have witnessed there.