100 people have been killed in ethnic riots since May 3; Photo: File
New Delhi: The Modi government has completely failed to control the communal riots that have been raging in the state of Manipur since May 3, when nine more people lost their lives in the clashes that resumed today after a gap of a few days.
According to Indian media, in the state of Manipur, the “Kuki” race living in the mountains and the “Mathis” living in the plains are attacking each other in which firearms are being used openly. Ancient churches are being burnt.
The groups living in the mountains and the plains belong to different races and one group, being the ancient population, claims the first right to the city’s resources, while the plains claim it as their own.
The Mathis living in the plains are mostly Christians, so the ethnic riots got a religious color, and the Hindu and Buddhist Kuki tribe also attacked the Mathis churches. In response, the temple was also attacked.
It started when the government announced economic benefits, including quotas in education and government jobs, to the relatively new settlers living in the plains, like the ancient hill population.
On which the ancient population Kuki had announced a protest demonstration and thus the non-stop series of ethnic riots started from May 3. According to official data, at least 100 people have been killed and more than 40,000 displaced.
According to independent sources, the death toll in Manipur is much higher than the official figure as dozens of churches, houses and business centers were set on fire.
Leaders of the Kuki minority hill community say that the Mathis community is already relatively prosperous and it would be unfair to give them more privileges. On the other hand, Mathews says that job quotas and other privileges will be protected for the tribals.
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