Manipur violence: Christian, SC communities call for Punjab bandh on August 9

Manipur violence now reaches Punjab: Violence in Manipur which gripped tension and chaos across nation now reaches Punjab. 

The unrest which began on May 3, triggered by the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) holding a solidarity march across districts to oppose the Manipur High Court's order now spread to Punjab. 

The Manipur Insaaf Morcha, predominantly comprising members from the Christian community, various organisations like the Balmiki Tiger Force, Satguru Kabir Tiger Force, and Ravidassia Youth Foundation, representing the Ravidassia and Valmiki community, have joined in support and call for Punjab bandh on August 9.

Conveners of the Communist Coordination Committee and chairman of the Revolutionary Marxist Party of India and Member of the Polit Bureau of Marxist Communist Party of India-United, issued a joint statement and demanded the immediate removal of the Manipur Chief Minister to reinstate peace and normalcy in the state.

What causes unrest in Manipur? 

The demand for inclusion of the Meitei community, comprising 53 per cent of Manipur's population and predominantly residing in the Manipur Valley, in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list seems to be the immediate trigger for the ongoing ethnic unrest. 

However, beneath this proximate cause lies a simmering anger fueled by multiple factors.

Additionally, there is a pressing issue of land scarcity in Manipur, leading to significant tensions among various communities. As the tribal village populations grow, they naturally expand into the surrounding forest areas they consider historically and ancestrally theirs. However, this clashes with the government's perspective, causing disputes over land usage and rights.