Yangmi Ruivah
In the second half of 2023, senior Congress leader and former Union Home and Finance Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram, posted a tweet that struck at the heart of Manipur’s prolonged crisis. He rightly asserted that rushing 5000 more Central Armed Police Forces into the state was not a solution. Instead, he called for political wisdom – starting with the removal of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and for a future built on genuine regional autonomy for Meiteis, Kuki-Zo, and Nagas.
Though his words were courageous and accurate, the tweet was swiftly deleted following pressure from the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, particularly from Meitei Congress leaders. Tribal Congress leaders were also reportedly coerced into signing a condemnation letter against Chidambaram – an act that symbolized betrayal of their own people’s aspirations.
The deletion of the tweet did not erase the truth it carried. It only exposed the persistent imbalance of power in Manipur, where even national leaders are silenced for speaking about justice, federalism, and equality. Chidambaram’s statement reflected what many tribals have long demanded: dignity through autonomy. His intervention may have been brief, but it represented what national discourse on Manipur has often lacked – truth and moral clarity.
The Indian Constitution provides certain safeguards for Manipur’s hill people through Article 371C and the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971. These legal provisions were meant to ensure local self-governance, protect land and cultural rights, and bring equitable development to tribal regions. However, in practice, these have remained largely on paper.
The Hill Areas Committee (HAC), despite being a constitutional body, functions without authority or respect from successive state governments. The Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) are severely underfunded, lack functional devolution, and operate without meaningful legislative or administrative power. This has led to decades of neglect, underdevelopment, and political marginalization of tribal communities.
That Chidambaram was compelled to delete a factual, balanced and forward-looking tweet underlines the influence of Meitei political dominance, even within national parties like the Congress. The pressure on tribal leaders to publicly oppose Chidambaram shows the extent of internal suppression faced by those who attempt to speak for tribal rights.
This event should be a wake-up call for all tribal political representatives. If our leaders continue to surrender to coercion, the struggle for autonomy will remain a distant dream. If they had stood with Chidambaram instead of condemning him, it would have signaled a new era of political clarity and tribal unity in Manipur.
Since Chidambaram’s tweet, Manipur has endured one of its darkest chapters. Communal clashes, displacement, and institutional breakdown have impacted both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities deeply. The failure of the state leadership to contain violence and foster reconciliation led to the imposition of the President’s Rule on 13 February 2025.
In the recent session of Parliament, a resolution to extend President’s Rule in the state, citing continued instability was ratified by the upper house by a voice vote is a welcome move. As a concerned tribal citizen, I firmly believe that PR must remain in place until a just and inclusive solution is found – one that respects the aspirations of all communities through a framework of genuine regional autonomy. Restoring a partisan and failed government would only deepen the divisions. The people of Manipur deserves a political order that acknowledges diversity and upholds equality in governance, resource sharing, and representation.
A Call for Tribal Unity
The time has come for tribal leaders – regardless of tribe or party affiliation – to rise above their differences and stand united for our collective future. If we fail to unite now, we risk remaining fragmented and voiceless for decades to come. The vision of genuine autonomy is not beyond reach, but it demands bold, principled, and united leadership.
What Chidambaram tweeted, though forced to be deleted, remains a truthful expression of what many in the hills have been feeling for years. His words remain etched in the political consciousness of tribal Manipur. The path to peace lies not in silence or compromise, but in asserting our rightful place in the constitutional and political framework of the state. The tweet might have been deleted but the truth it carried remains.
[The writer is currently the Chairman of Chingai Village Council and can be reached at yruivah@live.com]
