The Delhi Meitei Coordinating Committee (DMCC), an umbrella body representing Meitei civil society organisations in Delhi, has petitioned the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the Chief Justice of India (CJI), urging the postponement of the Lok Sabha election in Manipur due to ongoing ethnic unrest. Manipur is scheduled to vote in two phases on April 19 and April 26. The state has been grappling with ethnic conflict between the politically dominant Meitei people and the Kuki-Zo tribes for nearly a year, resulting in at least 220 deaths and numerous injuries and displacements.
In letters addressed to the CEC and the CJI on April 1, the DMCC highlighted attacks by alleged “Kuki militants” on Meitei settlements in Manipur. They argued that these attacks, which persisted until the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the poll dates, ceased afterward, suggesting a political motivation behind them. The DMCC cited a policy called “Suspension of Operation (SoO)” between 24 Kuki militants and the Government of India as facilitating these attacks. They contended that the relative peace brought about by the election necessitated the postponement of the Lok Sabha election in Manipur.
The DMCC further noted the adverse impact of the ethnic unrest and law and order situation on the political landscape, creating an uneven playing field for all parties. They raised concerns about undisclosed meetings held by the Chief Minister with various civilian women’s groups after the imposition of the model code of conduct, as well as threats and attacks faced by opposition party candidates during campaigning.
Additionally, the DMCC highlighted the failure of the state to protect its citizens, leading people to resort to self-defense measures. They cited incidents of arms and ammunition looting from armories and police stations, with a substantial number of weapons still unaccounted for. The letters also mentioned the DMCC’s attempt to seek legal recourse through the Supreme Court of India, hindered by prohibitive legal fees.
The DMCC’s efforts underscore the gravity of the situation in Manipur and the challenges facing the electoral process amidst ongoing unrest and security concerns.
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