New Delhi: Lieutenant Normal (retd) L. Nishikanta Singh, who has been outspoken within the ethnic battle in Manipur and drew criticism for his 2023 social media remarks that “300 lungi-clad Kuki terrorists from Myanmar had entered Manipur and burnt homes with their counterparts within the state”, has now been appointed as Adviser (Coordination) to the state chief minister.

Quickly after the appointment, a number of Kuki-affiliated social media pages condemned the transfer, terming it one with “harmful repercussions”.

Talking to ThePrint Sunday, Singh mentioned that previous occasions needs to be handled as “bygones”.

He asserted that solely “just a few negatives” had been being highlighted and held in opposition to him, whereas the numerous situations during which he had helped members of the Kuki neighborhood had been being neglected.

Singh additional mentioned that the restoration of peace and bonhomie within the state was his precedence, including that each Kukis and Meiteis should come collectively to make sure peace and work in direction of “nation constructing”.

“Restoration of normalcy is the precedence. It will put Manipur on the trail of growth. It’s going to contribute to nationwide unity,” he instructed ThePrint.

He underlined that outreach efforts had already begun. “Work has already begun on the bottom. The CM has reached out to all communities. His first go to was to Jiribam. We additionally went to Hmar village and met the family members of the Hmar brothers who had been victims. We additionally met Meitei brothers and sisters. We’re ensuring we interact with individuals,” he mentioned.

Some social media handles additionally circulated an article written by Singh final October in reward of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), alleging that his appointment as adviser to the Manipur CM was linked to his perceived affiliation with the Sangh. The article is titled ‘100 Years of RSS: Its Contribution to the Nation, Northeast India and Manipur’ and was printed in Organiser.

Responding to the allegations, Singh mentioned: “I’m not affiliated with the RSS or some other organisation. I admire and reward whoever does good work. They’ve completed glorious work, and that’s the reason I wrote about it. That doesn’t imply I’m related to them.”

Born in Manipur in 1958, Singh was commissioned into the Indian Military in 1979 and joined the ninth Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Gentle Infantry Regiment. He grew to become Manipur’s second Lieutenant Normal in September 2015.

Singh additionally led a rescue mission to Afghanistan after the Indian Medical Mission was attacked in February 2010. He’s the third Lieutenant Normal from the Northeast since Independence and holds an M.Phil diploma in defence research from College of Madras. He has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal twice.

In accordance with Singh, in his present position he could be advising the CM on safety structure, rehabilitation priorities and phased stabilisation. “The concept is to supply skilled assessments of floor realities unbiased of partisan pressures,” he acknowledged.

The appointment of Singh and others was made following a choice taken throughout a cupboard assembly held on 17 February. The order acknowledged that the appointments had been being made in public curiosity for a interval of 1 yr with fast impact. Aside from Singh, Oinam Sunil Singh was appointed as Media Advisor to the CM and Krishnananda Samurailatpam Sharma as Advisor (Coverage Matter) to the CM for one yr. Each are Meitei.

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‘Must show neutrality’

Officers within the safety institution instructed ThePrint that L. Nishikanta Singh is a adorned officer who understands the heartbeat of Manipur.

“He has served in army intelligence; he has the mind and the expertise. He has been posted within the state and is aware of the place inside out,” one officer mentioned. Nonetheless, the officer added that Singh would now need to “show that he’s impartial”.

“He must earn individuals’s confidence and show that he represents the state as a complete, not anyone neighborhood. He has a robust service document, and his expertise ought to show precious,” the officer mentioned.

A second officer described the appointment as a constructive sign from new CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh, indicating outreach to communities on either side and an effort to take the “proper steps”.

“The appointment of Lt-Gen Singh could also be seen as controversial, however he’s a succesful officer with hands-on expertise. Furthermore, the intent of the brand new authorities seems constructive, because the CM is reaching out to all communities and shifting in the proper route. This appointment shouldn’t derail the peace course of,” he mentioned.

‘A setback’

Lun Kipgen, Committee on Tribal Unity spokesperson, was important of Singh’s appointment.

He mentioned it was harmful to nominate “a radical” as adviser to the Manipur CM and that the federal government ought to have been conscious about partaking somebody who was “impartial” and never visibly biased in opposition to the Kuki neighborhood.

Talking to ThePrint, Kipgen asserted that appointing somebody with a army background, and that too one who has referred to Kukis as militants, was a serious setback to the peace course of and would make issues return to sq. one. He mentioned the appointment made them doubt the intentions of the brand new authorities.

“It’s no secret that through the battle, he (Singh) appeared biased in opposition to the Kukis, and his feedback solely added gasoline to the hearth. If the federal government needed to instil confidence among the many individuals, it ought to have engaged somebody impartial, even perhaps somebody from Delhi, and never somebody perceived to have contributed to the unrest,” he mentioned.

In accordance with Kipgen, whereas Singh is a adorned officer who instructions public respect, his earlier statements in regards to the Kuki neighborhood make the appointment contentious.

“Why does the federal government want an adviser from a army background who has made such remarks about our neighborhood? He unfold misinformation, fuelled unrest. This determination must be reconsidered by the federal government,” he mentioned.

A second Kuki chief additionally described the appointment as “one of the crucial controversial ones” that might set again the continuing peace efforts.

“He was the one who unfold faux info when the Kuki-Zo colony in Sugnu was burned down by a mixed staff of Arambai Tenggol, UNLF (United Nationwide Liberation Entrance), PLA (Folks’s Liberation Military of Manipur) and others,” the chief alleged.

“He continues to tweet in opposition to the Kuki neighborhood. How can we count on somebody like him to work for the Kukis and in direction of peace? Why would the federal government make such an appointment at such an important time? It makes us doubt the federal government’s intentions,” the chief mentioned.

(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)

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