N. Biren Singh, the leader of India’s violence-torn state, has slammed Western critics over allegations of religious persecution
Western countries’ comments on ethnic conflict in Manipur are uninformed, according to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who governs the state in northeastern India. He particularly slammed attempts to link the situation with religious persecution. In an exclusive interview with RT, Singh blamed the situation on several causes, including illegal migration from neighboring Myanmar.
Ethnic clashes between the region’s Meitei majority, living in the valley, and the Kuki tribes, who live in the surrounding hills, have left more than 200 dead and tens of thousands displaced since May 2023. Western countries, including the US and the UK, have repeatedly alleged the existence of religious rights infringements in the Indian state.
Last month, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, said London should continue to press the issue of “religious freedom” in India. Days later, the US State Department, in its Human Rights report for 2023 claimed that significant abuses had occurred in the state throughout the year.
Singh suggested that the West, particularly the US, “as a developed country and as a superpower,” should look at humanitarian issues rather than probe religious ones. “Whatever is happening in Manipur today, is not related to Christianity or Hinduism,” he argued. “Hearing and collecting one-sided information and criticising India as a big secular country and big democracy is very, very unfortunate,” he said.
"It's Very Unfortunate" – Manipur CM On Flawed US Human Rights Report In RT Exclusive
N. Biren Singh pointed out the flaws in the recent report & how western countries focus on religious issues, without recognising the 3 flows of refugees from Myanmar in a sit down with… pic.twitter.com/npwyCrnABz