President's Rule in Manipur: A Temporary Calm and the Unfinished Agenda of Reconciliation
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance (President's Rule - Article 356, S.R. Bommai case), Internal Security (Ethnic conflicts in the Northeast), Current Events.
Mains:
GS Paper 2: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure; Emergency provisions (President's Rule).
GS Paper 3: Security challenges and their management in border areas; Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
Key Highlights from the News
President's Rule in Manipur extended for six months amidst ongoing ethnic conflict.
Deep ethnic division between Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities remains unresolved; buffer zones still exist.
Kuki-Zo groups demand a separate administration, while Meitei groups label others as "outsiders."
Since the 1990s, the imposition of President's Rule significantly decreased following the S.R. Bommai case verdict and the growth of regional parties.
The article argues that administrative measures alone are insufficient; political intervention is needed for reconciliation between communities.
The success of President's Rule cannot be measured solely by the absence of violence. The Central government has a great responsibility in restoring true peace.
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