New Delhi: The Delhi Meitei Coordinating Committee (DMCC) has expressed strong disapproval of recent remarks made by former Union Home Minister Shri P. Chidambaram in a post shared on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter).
In his post, Shri Chidambaram outlined four points regarding the ongoing crisis in Manipur. While the DMCC agrees with his first observation—that deploying 5,000 additional security personnel will not resolve the conflict—they have taken issue with his third point. The statement in question suggests that “genuine regional autonomy” for the Meiteis, Kuki-Zo, and Naga communities could foster peaceful coexistence.
The DMCC views this as a divisive and insensitive proposition, especially given the sacrifices made by the Meitei community to uphold the territorial integrity and peaceful coexistence of the state. “Such statements only serve to incite further violence in Manipur,” stated a DMCC spokesperson.
Strengthened development initiatives
In its official statement, the DMCC underscored the importance of balanced development across Manipur, emphasizing support for empowering existing autonomous councils rather than creating new administrative divisions based on ethnicity or religion.
The DMCC noted that significant financial resources have already been allocated to Manipur’s autonomous councils, with approximately ₹150 crore sanctioned by the state government and another ₹150 crore from the central government in the past year.
“If additional funds, such as ₹2,000 or ₹3,000 crore, are allocated for the region’s development, the DMCC would have no objections. However, any policy that promotes division or fosters ethnic or religious tensions will be strongly opposed,” the statement read.
Call for action from Congress
The DMCC also appealed to Congress Party leaders in Manipur to take responsibility for sensitizing the party’s central leadership to the complexities of the Manipur crisis. While acknowledging the opposition’s efforts in Parliament, the DMCC urged for more decisive action to pressure the Government of India.
“As a formidable political force in states across the country, the Congress Party has the capacity to take meaningful steps toward resolving the issue. We hope they join hands with other stakeholders to ensure lasting peace in Manipur,” the DMCC remarked.
The DMCC reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Manipur’s territorial integrity and fostering inclusive development, urging all parties to refrain from making statements that could exacerbate tensions in the region.
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