Biswadeep Gupta, President of the Barak-Manipur Friendship Association (BMFA) contended that the introduction of NRC in Manipur could have far more significant consequences due to the state’s porous borders with Myanmar and the ongoing issues of illegal immigration. He speculated that individuals who lack proper legacy data might have infiltrated the administrative, business, and social fabric of Manipur.
By Waari Singbul Network
In a bold revelation, Biswadeep Gupta, President of the Barak-Manipur Friendship Association (BMFA), claimed that the root cause of Manipur’s ethnic conflict can be traced back to the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. Speaking at the Peace Convention titled “Manipur Conflict: Consequences for Northeast India and the Nation”, organized by the Knowledge Resource Centre Foundation on September 28, at Silchar’s Rajiv Bhawan, Gupta alleged that the NRC process had indirectly set the stage for a deeper conspiracy against the state of Manipur and beyond.
Gupta, who has been closely monitoring the situation as a journalist stationed in Manipur, presented his insights gathered over sixteen months. He argued that while the publicly stated reasons for the ongoing strife—such as Meitei demands for Scheduled Tribe status, eviction drives from reserved forest areas, and curbing poppy cultivation—are valid concerns, the true catalyst for the conflict lies in the aftermath of NRC implementation in Assam.
The NRC Connection: A Fear of Losing Citizenship?
According to Gupta, the NRC, which aims to document the legacy data of residents to establish citizenship, has triggered panic among certain groups who lack historical documentation to prove their Indian lineage. The implications of the NRC are far-reaching: it doesn’t consider mere possession of identity documents like voter cards or Aadhaar; instead, it requires proof of ancestry within the country. This has left those without such records vulnerable to the fear of being rendered stateless.
Gupta contended that the introduction of NRC in Manipur could have far more significant consequences due to the state’s porous borders with Myanmar and the ongoing issues of illegal immigration. He speculated that individuals who lack proper legacy data might have infiltrated the administrative, business, and social fabric of Manipur. These individuals, aware that an NRC exercise would expose their lack of ancestral ties to India, might have instigated and perpetuated the current conflict to prevent any possibility of NRC implementation in the state.
Was the Conflict Engineered to Halt NRC?
In his keynote address, Gupta hinted at a strategic maneuver by these groups to deliberately create chaos in Manipur, thus stalling any governmental attempts to extend the NRC exercise. He highlighted the role of the drug economy in funding armed groups, which have access to sophisticated weapons, allowing them to withstand the might of the Indian Army. This financial backing, he argued, is part of a larger ploy to destabilize the state and protect the interests of those who fear losing citizenship status under NRC.
A Call for National-Level NRC Implementation
Gupta urged the Indian Government to expedite the implementation of the NRC in Manipur and other states across India. He argued that such a measure would ultimately bring peace to the region, as it would distinguish between genuine citizens and illegal immigrants. He further demanded compensation for the people of Assam, who had to endure the arduous NRC process, which led to social and mental anguish, even resulting in suicides.
A Broader Conspiracy?
Gupta also brought the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) into the discussion, noting its selective approach toward granting citizenship. While Christians from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan can be granted citizenship, Myanmarese Christians are excluded. He questioned whether this disparity hints at a premeditated scheme, one that began to unfold with Assam’s NRC exercise and has now culminated in the volatile situation in Manipur.
Gupta’s remarks have thrown a new light on the Manipur conflict, suggesting that it may not just be an ethnic or land issue, but a battle over citizenship and identity—one that has been quietly brewing since the NRC was enforced in Assam. As calls for clarity and intervention grow louder, it remains to be seen how this revelation will shape the discourse and policy decisions in the region moving forward.