CoTU Questions Political Decorum, Warns Attacks on MLA’s Residence Echo ‘May 2023’ Mayhem

The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, has questioned the political conduct of elected representatives in Manipur, warning that personal attacks against fellow legislators and the targeting of an elected representative’s residence could evoke the disturbing memories of the May 2023 violence in the state.

The Sadar Hills based tribal body welcomed the peace-building initiatives of the Government of India and the Manipur government, but said the emerging efforts to restore trust could be undermined by irresponsible political conduct and acts of radicalism.

The tribal body questioned whether an elected representative could publicly hurl personal remarks against a fellow colleague instead of engaging in “healthy and constructive debates” on the floor of the Assembly.

“Can one elected representative hurl personal remarks against a fellow colleague in public instead of having healthy and constructive debates in the House?” CoTU asked, expressing concern over what it described as a departure from the political decorum expected from lawmakers.

It also raised a more serious concern over the alleged targeting of the residence of an elected representative, saying such an incident would be particularly disturbing in a state still struggling to recover from the ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023.

CoTU described the alleged targeting as a potential “mirror reflection” of the events witnessed in the Imphal Valley during the early days of the conflict, cautioning that such developments could further deepen mistrust between communities.

The organisation said political differences must be addressed through democratic institutions rather than personal attacks or intimidation, particularly when the state government is attempting to rebuild confidence among communities after more than three years of turmoil.

CoTU credited the current dispensation under Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh with advancing a political discourse based on “plurality and humanism”, saying Kuki-Zo stakeholders in Sadar Hills had responded positively to the government's peace-building initiatives.

As an indication of the confidence-building process, the organisation said Kuki-Zo people in Sadar Hills had agreed to a safe and secure bus service for Meitei/Meetei passengers along National Highway-2.

However, it cautioned that such gestures of reconciliation would have little meaning if political leaders themselves failed to uphold restraint, democratic conduct and respect for fellow elected representatives.

CoTU urged legislators to maintain the dignity of the Assembly and refrain from using their offices for personal interests, saying the “sanctity of the People's House” must be protected if the state's peace process is to have credibility.

The organisation also appealed to both the Centre and the state government to ensure impartial investigations and security operations, warning against what it termed “selective operations” or targeting of any particular community.

It said peace-building required not only political assurances but also equal protection, unbiased enforcement of law and accountability for acts that threaten communal harmony.

“The scars of May 3, 2023 should not become a blot on history,” CoTU said, maintaining that the painful experience should instead serve as a point of reference for rebuilding trust and validating the shared historical values of the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities.