The demand for a Scheduled Tribe status by the dominant Meitei community led to clashes with the tribal Kukis. Violence has gripped the state since 3 May with no end in sight. Now Home Minister Amit Shah is visiting the state and there’s hope that he could bring the two warring sides together
Historical divisions, the BJP chief minister’s handling of an anti-poppy drive and the NRC contributed to the violence, said journalist Pradip Phanjoubam.
The BJP government in Manipur is facing a big challenge as 10 tribal MLAs from various parties, including five from the BJP, indirectly demanded a separate state for the Kuki tribals, leading to an ethnic division of the state.