IN A STRONG statement on the Manipur conflict Monday, the state wing of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) hit out at the Centre and state governments for “failure” to protect innocent lives. ABVP national general secretary Yagywalkya Shukla speaks to The Indian Express on the Manipur crisis and what the organisation, which is the student wing of the RSS, expects the BJP government in the state to do. Excerpts:

The ABVP has been alert to the conflict since the beginning. When the strife started in May 2023, we said the government must bring all stakeholders together and talk to them about restoring peace in light of the society moving towards ethnic genocide.

We (the ABVP) believe it (the violence) should be investigated… Is there an international conspiracy to keep Manipur on the boil? Is there any political agenda behind this? Additionally, we have raised the issue of illegal immigration and drug trafficking… The state government and the Centre must make every effort to stop them.

We (the ABVP) are hosting our national convention in Gorakhpur this time and we will be bringing a resolution on Manipur. It will ask the government to take concrete steps to solve this problem. We will ask the government to bring a white paper on efforts that are being made by certain powers to destabilise the North East.

The ABVP’s specialty is that it tells the truth. We are saying this with great responsibility that the state government is failing in managing the Manipur crisis. I do not want to go into the past or blame things on political reasons, which may be true in this case too. But there has been some mismanagement (on the part of the state government).

How are groups getting access to weapons that are not even available to a common armed forces soldier? Rockets and drone bombs are being used. There is some anti-India power which appears to be supporting these groups. And we are not able to reach them. This is our failure. This is the direct responsibility of the state government.

The Centre and the state must together expose the powers behind this problem. The Centre has taken cognizance of the problem. Two ministers were made to sit in Imphal for almost 60 days. But often efforts are seen through the prism of the results they produce. That is a separate debate.

The safety of the civilian population is the responsibility of the government. And for that, all necessary steps must be taken.

Whatever is legitimate for Manipur should be done. It is important to identify the forces that are taking the state towards ethnic genocide. We have to also look at the conspiracy behind the unrest. Whatever be the legal and natural right of any group, it should be given to them.

I don’t think it is required to observe it through the prism of religion. It is a struggle between two communities. There shouldn’t be politics on every issue. The government must act swiftly and establish peace.

We are constantly engaging with the youth of Manipur based on whatever strength we have. Wherever schools are not running, ABVP activists are teaching the children. Be it medical camps or food camps, the ABVP is constantly doing whatever it can for the society. We are also helping people celebrate their festivals properly at this difficult time and ensuring that those suffering trauma get counselling.