Manipur has been reeling under violence since 3rd May when a “tribal solidarity march” triggered widespread clashes killing at least 180 people while hundreds of others were injured. The issue of Manipur is subject to many discussions and in one such discussion, Indian-American woman Rajshree Keisham told a Congressional hearing that the clashes in Manipur are being oversimplified as religious clashes to malign the image of Hindus, a report by PTI said.
Rajshree Keisham added that the problem is much more complex than it looks and includes several angles like politics, militancy, narcotics, etc. She emphasized Manipur’s strength of diversity and called it a testament to the harmonious coexistence.
“In an effort to simplify the ongoing crisis between two tribal communities merely as a religious clash and to malign the Hindu image, the real cause of the conflict has been completely ignored,” Rajshree Keisham said during a Congressional hearing organized by HinduACTion and Namaste Shalom Multi-faith Alliance.
Complex web of internecine conflict
“Beneath the surface is a complex web of internecine conflict marked by violence, mistrust, and socio-political tensions and a deadly trifecta of militancy, narcotics, and illegal infiltration, which poses significant threats to India’s national security,” NDTV quoted her as saying.
While talking about the demography of Manipur, Rajshree Keisham pointed out that Hindus in Manipur include people from various parts of the country including Punjab, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and even neighboring Nepal. She made a similar point about Christians of Manipur which include Nagas and Kuki.
The Indian-American emphasized that diversity in Manipur is not a source of division, but a testament to the harmonious coexistence that characterized Manipur for generations.
“We hope that the senseless violence in Manipur ends and look forward to a solution. It is our sincere aspiration that any existing biases or apprehensions towards Hindus are mitigated, and that a constructive resolution is achieved,” she said.
“This would pave the way for the commencement of a process centered on healing, rejuvenation, and reconstruction in Manipur,” said the Indian-American woman from Illinois.
(With inputs from PTI)
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Updated: 25 Oct 2023, 07:10 PM IST