The EU parliament criticised “nationalistic rhetoric” it claimed was escalating tensions and asked India to stop the violence and protect minorities in the nation’s northeastern Manipur state.
EU parliament alarmed violence in India’s Manipur: It happened as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi started a two-day trip to France, where he will serve as the guest of honour at the historic Bastille Day military display.
The majority Meitei of Manipur, who are primarily Hindu and reside in and around the state capital Imphal, have clashed with the predominantly Christian Kuki tribe in the nearby highlands, which has alarmed MEPs.
The violence has “left at least 120 people dead, 50,000 displaced, over 1,700 houses and 250 churches destroyed,” according to the EU parliament.
MEPs voted on Thursday to pass a resolution urging Indian authorities to promptly halt the ethnic and religious violence and to protect all religious minorities. The resolution also denounced “nationalistic rhetoric” in the country.
The Kuki community had opposed Meitei proposals for quotas for special public jobs and affirmative action-style college admissions.
The Kukis’ long-held concerns were fueled by the news that the Meitei might also be permitted to purchase land in places that are currently set aside for tribal groupings.
The resolution stated that “politically motivated, divisive policies that promote Hindu majoritarianism in the area have raised concerns and that intolerance towards minority communities has contributed to the current violence.”
Human Rights Concerns Mount in Manipur as Media Restrictions and Internet Blackouts Continue
The Manipur state government severely restricted media reporting and shut down internet connections, according to the report. Recent killings by security forces have furthered public mistrust of the government.
They demanded unbiased investigations and the lifting of internet blackouts.
The European Union and India must prioritize human rights in all aspects of their collaboration, including trade relations.
The principal negotiator of the document, MEP Pierre Larrouturou, claimed that the local administration of Modi’s BJP was “fanning the flames of conflict.”
“The BJP is using the local violence to further discriminate against non-Hindu minorities,” he claimed. Further, “By allowing the armed forces to fire on civilians and cutting off Internet services.”
Larrouturou referred to Modi’s invitation to the parade in Paris as “an affront not only to India’s minority communities, journalists, and human rights defenders, but also to India as a democracy”.
However, A meagre land corridor connects the isolated northeast of India, which includes Manipur, to the rest of the nation.