THE European Parliament has become involved in the ongoing tribal and religious conflict in Manipur, India, to demand that the government take immediate steps to restore calm.
Violence erupted in May between Manipur’s largely Hindu Meitei and largely Christian Kuki tribes, killing at least 120 people, displacing 50,000, and destroying 250 churches and more than 1000 homes (News, 9 June).
Reports suggest that the conflict began after a rally held by members of the majority-Christian hill-dwelling tribal groups against moves to include the majority-Hindu Meitei community in “Scheduled Tribe” status. The status is an affirmative-action programme that grants eligible groups access to forest lands, a guaranteed proportion of government jobs, and places in educational institutions.
Clashes between the Kuki and Meitei escalated, prompting the deployment of thousands of Indian troops to the state.
ADF International, a legal charity that works to promote religious freedom worldwide, said that the clash was symptomatic of the ongoing restrictions on religious freedoms that were happening throughout India.
Dr Adina Portaru, a senior counsel for ADF International, said: “The ongoing religious-freedom crisis we are seeing throughout India has erupted into violent destruction and chaos in Manipur. It’s long past time for India to not only address the situation in Manipur, but also it must eradicate any laws and policies that obstruct freedom of religion. Our prayers are with the people of India.”
Open Doors’ annual World Watch list 23 ranks India the 11th most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian, owing to a rise in Hindu extremism and the increase in the number of states implementing anti-conversion laws.
The European Parliament’s strongly worded resolution was passed with a large majority. Miriam Lexmann, an MEP from Slovakia, said: “While Indian officials often like to boast that the country is the world’s largest democracy, intolerance and violence against religious minorities paint a different picture. These attacks against Christians are not isolated incidents. They are organised, leaving behind destruction and shattered lives. The European Union cannot close its eyes to these crimes.”
The Parliament also called on the Indian government to lift the internet ban that it had imposed in the region after the conflict, and to allow the entry of international observers, journalists, and humanitarian organisations.
The Indian government has condemned the resolution as “interference”. India’s foreign ministry said that “such interference in India’s internal affairs is unacceptable, and reflects a colonial mindset.”
The President of India, Narendra Modi, arrived in France for a state visit on the day that the resolution was passed in Strasbourg.