Ukhrul, November 6: The Meitei Alliance has come down strongly on what it calls “one-sided and misleading” portrayals of the Manipur conflict in national and international media.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Meitei Alliance accused several outlets and rights bodies of painting Meitei civilians as aggressors while turning a blind eye to the role of armed Kuki groups in the ongoing violence.
“The Meitei community has always stood for a plural and inclusive Manipur that has lived in harmony with different ethnic groups for generations,” the statement said, condemning what it described as “selective reporting” that deepens mistrust among communities.
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The Alliance named Al Jazeera, The Wire, The Print, The Caravan, The Hindu, the Editors Guild of India, and the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) among those allegedly promoting a “skewed narrative.” It said such coverage downplays militant activity, narcotics-linked crimes, and illegal immigration involving Kuki groups while highlighting only the Meitei side of the conflict.
Citing a recent Al Jazeera documentary, the group alleged that the film gave space to armed Kuki militants “without questioning their defiance of Indian law,” and ignored the initial torching of Meitei homes in Torbung that, it said, sparked the unrest.
The statement also took aim at PUCL and similar organizations for “fueling separatist sentiments” by backing calls for separate administration in Kuki-dominated areas. It claimed these positions threaten the state’s multicultural character.
Calling for “ethical and balanced reporting,” the Meitei Alliance urged journalists and civic groups to help rebuild trust instead of inflaming divisions. “Manipur needs truth and peace, not propaganda,” the statement concluded.
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It also urged Indian citizens, civil society, and international media to recognize the dual threat facing Manipur today and placed two key pointers:
- Xenophobic forces posing as “tribal victims” while engaging in militant and illegal activities.
- Biased media ecosystems that undermine democratic integrity through disinformation and selective reporting.