Ethnic tensions between Meitei and Kuki-Zomi people in Manipur arose on May 3, 2023. Although this is not the first time of violence in Manipur, this has become international news. Many stories are coming out of Manipur, with detailed accounts of horrific incidents. The latest was the parading of a couple of women on the street naked and many unreported atrocities.
The politics regarding the issues has already started between the opposition and the ruling party, many claiming the inaction of the Prime Minister as a chief culprit, being completely aware that law and order are state subjects. That is to be expected within a democracy in a country. Still, the problem arises with the international community’s reaction to the law and order issues of a Sovereign, responsible democracy.
Office bearers of European countries have started discussing this in their official meetings. This clearly shows the colonial mind-set is still prevalent, with countries like India being their “White man’s burden”. Discussing the issue among themselves is a direct assault on the sovereignty of India. European countries need constant reminders that the Indian State, with all its flaws, can handle itself without expert advice from their politicians.
This is a repeat of the same when India decided to import crude oil from Russia. Every European Country started commenting on the policy in public forums as if India had crossed a line drawn by the ‘masters’. A befitting reply was given by the External affairs minister, pointing to the hypocrisy of European Countries concerning the import of Russian oil.
The Western countries somehow still cannot acknowledge the fact that India can pursue its own policy, domestic or international. They still have a sense of responsibility to direct the colonial nation to the “right path” and “correct policies”. Assuming the Western nations are concerned about human rights issues, there are proper diplomatic channels to raise their concerns, it doesn’t befit the nations who call themselves friendly countries to discuss the matter themselves and propose to have a special envoy sent to investigate the matters of another Sovereign State.
India has always been careful in the international arena not to touch the sovereignty of other countries. It did not issue statements or discuss in Parliament when the Black lives matter protest was happening. It did not react when Canadian truck drivers protested or recent violence in France. It is time for the Western community to extend the same courtesy towards India too.
Let us assume they couldn’t stop themselves because of their pureness of heart and not as a part of international politics. But then the question arises where the European concerns were when thousands of Uyghur Muslims were prosecuted in broad daylight in China. Where is their concern for human rights when Hindus are prosecuted and harassed for the sake of religion, even today in Pakistan? Where were the torchbearers of Justice and human rights when Hong Kong was taken control by the Communist Party of China? Where are they when Kashmiri pandits are killed even today just because they are Hindus?
They do not speak regarding these issues other than the customary statement of condemning the act or asking for the nation to refrain from violence and no more. The choice of the issue being raised in the European Union is very interesting. In his speech, a member of the meeting very clearly said why the issue was important. The primary concern of the meeting is this effect on Christians and Churches.
In the so-called birthplace of secularism, where the idea of the Church-State divide originated, a politician is speaking for the rights of the Christians in India and identifies himself as belonging to the Christian country. This begs the question, when the European countries are identifying themselves as Christian countries, why the people in India are still hesitant to talk about the Hindu Rastra, let alone identify themselves as Hindus fearing the violation of secular principles?
It is not right for anyone to face injustice or violence in this day and age, that too in a country like India. None of us wish for any injustice on anyone just because of his religion. But if something happens to Christians anywhere, the whole Western bloc reacts. In case of any perceived injustice or hurt to Muslims, the Middle Eastern countries react. The recent case of hounding f Nupur Sharma for quoting an Islamic text is a glaring example. Even the three farm bills were condemned by Canada, which supported the farmer protests.
Israel calls itself a Jewish State, Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country, and so is Pakistan. The Queen of England being crowned by the pope is secular, but the Prime Minister of India performing rituals to install the Sengol in Parliament is communal. Conversion of Hindus into other religions is secular and free will, but Ghar wapsi is a horrendous sin on the country’s secular credentials. People talking about the girls brainwashed, converted and sent to terrorist camps is communal. Christian pastors openly taking a political stand and asking supporters to follow them in the name of God is appropriate and secular.
Despite all this, India is still hesitant to call itself a Hindu country with its basic ideals and culture derived from the Ancient Hindu civilisation. Has the common Hindu ever contemplated who is there in case of any atrocity on Hindus? Even India as a nation cannot strongly support the victim or condemn the act as its hands are tied with the tag of secularism.
Is this the kind of secularism Indians want to practice domestically and globally? How is it that the many states in North East India have become Christian-majority states? Are we even ready to explore the concept of religious conversion that is taking place? How do we perceive the position of India in internal sovereign matters when other nations try to interfere? These are some of the questions that will have a long-term impact on the future of India and its people.
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