The Pledge to Punish: Empty Promises on Jiribam Killings

The recent pledge by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to punish those responsible for the killings in Jiribam is yet another empty promise in a series of unfulfilled commitments since the outbreak of violence in May 2023. The Jiribam killings are not isolated; they represent the broader failure of the state government to maintain law and order or deliver justice. These hollow assurances have become a hallmark of an administration that appears incapable of addressing the crisis gripping Manipur.
The inability of the government to ensure accountability and justice in incidents like Jiribam has eroded public trust. Despite the Chief Minister’s statements, little progress has been made to stem the violence or apprehend the culprits. Instead, these incidents highlight the paralysis of the state’s governance, which remains reactive and ineffective while the people bear the brunt of lawlessness and insecurity.
A fundamental question that looms over this situation is why no elected representative from Manipur has been able to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This failure to secure an audience predates the BJP’s electoral loss in the Inner Manipur constituency. Even during the height of the crisis, when the state was burning, the inability of legislators to convey the urgency of the situation directly to the Prime Minister revealed the limited influence of Manipur’s leaders at the national level. Today, this disconnect continues, underscoring the marginalization of the state’s voices in Delhi.
The much-celebrated Modi ji gi Thambal song during the election campaigns in Manipur has proven to be a mere rhetorical flourish. The absence of decisive intervention from the Prime Minister has left the state government as an ineffective intermediary, absorbing the people’s anger while the Centre remains silent. For many in Manipur, it appears that Modi ji has disowned the Thambal, leaving the state to grapple with its crisis alone.
Despite their evident ineffectiveness, the state’s leadership clings to power, bolstered by supporters who argue that even an inactive government is better than none. This defense is built on the premise that some benefits, however minimal, reach a select few under the current administration. However, this argument ignores the broader reality of a paralyzed government unable to protect its citizens or address their grievances. The resignation of the state government could have been a powerful statement, exposing the Centre’s unwillingness to engage with Manipur’s crisis. Instead, the leadership remains entrenched, perpetuating the status quo and shielding the Centre from direct accountability.
The ongoing turmoil in Manipur demands more than hollow promises and political posturing. The Jiribam killings exemplify the failure of the state government to uphold its most basic responsibilities. The Chief Minister’s pledge to punish the perpetrators, while commendable in words, must translate into action. Moreover, the enduring inability to secure direct engagement with the Prime Minister underscores a larger crisis of representation and neglect that Manipur faces within the national framework.
If the state government continues to prioritize its political survival over the well-being of its people, it risks further alienating the population it is meant to serve. The crisis in Manipur calls for leadership that is willing to take bold steps, even at the cost of political power, to demand justice and accountability from the Centre. Without such decisive action, the promises of peace and progress will remain as empty as the slogans that once heralded a new dawn for Manipur.