Communist Allegations Debunked: No Link Between Adani, Ambani, and Manipur Violence Over Palm Oil Production

Amidst the shadows of turmoil that have clouded the picturesque landscapes of Manipur, a glimmer of hope for peace emerges, guiding the state towards a brighter future. For over two months, this enchanting corner of India has endured the harrowing trials of riots, houses set ablaze, and innocent lives lost. The root of this chaos can be traced back to the contentious decision by the Manipur High Court, which sought to include Meiteis in the reserved category, igniting a blaze of violence that threatened to consume the region.

Despite the bloodshed and heartache that has been witnessed, there now appears to be a semblance of tranquillity settling upon Manipur. The Chief Minister’s announcement of the reopening of schools stands as a testament to this newfound hope for normalcy. As schools prepare to welcome back their students, it is a sign that life is tentatively moving towards healing and restoration.

Yet, in the backdrop of this dawning peace, there are whispers of concern. The spectre of communism looms, with a metaphorical vial of petrol in hand, seeking to fuel further discord. This time, their agenda appears to revolve around a narrative of capitalism pitted against the impoverished tribal communities, who have purportedly suffered the loss of their ancestral lands at the hands of a government deemed capitalist.

Having said that, here are a few social media posts and political statements made by people who are knee-deep in the ideology of communism. 

A member of Parliament, from Tamil Nadu. Thol. Thirumavalavan accused Ambani and Adani of the Manipur riots. According to him, ‘Ambani and Adani can’t buy land in Manipur, according to the law of the state. Therefore the government is facilitating riots in order to amend the law so that the Indian businessman can purchase land in Manipur.’

We also came across the Facebook post and Twitter that speaks in a similar vein.

A Facebook user who appears to be an ardent supporter of the Congress party wrote, “The central govt has decided to allocate 66,652 Hector forest land from 6 districts of Manipur to grow Palm oil plantation, as part of their National Mission for Cooking Oil production. 11,000 crores have been allocated for the project. The majority of contracts of these have already been allocated to the Adani group, one of the key players in the cooking oil market. Most of these lands belong to the Adivasi groups, the riot is an effort to clean up the area, like what India did in the past for Tata’s & Vedanta etc in Chattisgarh and Jharkhand.”

The Facebook post authored by Subhir Rajan Mavunkal gained additional traction on Twitter through user Arijit Biswas Kuki, thereby amplifying its reach and influence on the platform. Arijit Biwas wrote, “Corporates want your land. And bjp is their dog. So just scare this dog from the hills. All of them.”

An ex-Naxalite and Congress MLA from the state of Telangana, Danasari Seethakka wrote on Twitter, “ This is the feeling of everyone in India after seeing the disgusting video of Manipur, Modi & Adani are behind this they want to do mining in Manipur so they can’t do through constitution rights so they created this violence so that everyone run by fear.”

In addition to this, numerous other social media posts have been garnering widespread attention, propagating similar fears and echoing the same rhetoric. Despite the prevalence of such content, we remain committed to conducting a rigorous fact-check of the claim made by the political leader. Our objective is to present readers with verified information, enabling them to distinguish between truth and mere opinion based on unfounded conspiracy theories.

Also Read: The Washington Post Article Debunked: Crackdown on Shady NGOs has nothing to Do with Adani

Fact Check

Earlier, the same anti-India lobby attributed the Manipur violence to a communal divide between the Hindu majority and Christian minority which in fact appears to be an oversimplified characterization. However, there seems to be a recent attempt to portray the riots as a result of a crony capitalist conspiracy. So, our commitment to journalistic integrity compels us to initiate a meticulous process of fact-checking to ascertain the true origins of the violence and identify any instigators involved. Equally significant is the exploration of any potential involvement of prominent figures such as Adani or Ambani in the unfolding events that have spanned over 70 days.

What and Who started the violence?

According to India Today,  “At the centre of the ongoing unrest and protests in Manipur by thousands of people opposing the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the ST list, was the Manipur high court’s order.”

The report further said, “The order was passed by a bench of the Acting Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court, MV Muralidharan, in a petition filed by some members of the Meitei Tribe Union seeking directions to the state of Manipur to recommend inclusion of the Meiti community Scheduled Tribes list.

The court directed the state to consider the case of the petitioners for inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list, expeditiously, and sought the state government’s response to the Centre’s 2013 letter on demand for the grant of ST status to Meiteis.”

The court deemed it suitable to instruct the state to present its recommendation to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs within a reasonable timeframe. Additionally, the court directed the state to promptly consider the petitioners’ case for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list, preferably within a span of four weeks.

The Kukis, another significant community in Manipur, have a population nearly equal to that of the Meiteis but currently possess more than 85 per cent of the state’s land. Unlike the Meiteis, the Kukis also enjoy the status of being recognized as a Tribal community. Consequently, the Kuki community did not view the decision of the Manipur High Court favourably, leading to protests that escalated into widespread violence. The tensions arising from disparities in land ownership, rights, and tribal recognition have contributed to the volatile situation in the region.

According to the Indian Express “ATSUM, the state’s apex tribal body, announced protests against the directive, the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), the autonomous body empowered to monitor legislation and administration of hill areas of the state, unanimously resolved to urge the Government of Manipur and the Government of India to go for Appeals against the High Court order taking into account the “sentiments and interests/rights of the Scheduled Tribes of Manipur.”

Having analyzed the situation in Manipur, it appears that the violence originated from the Manipur High Court’s decision, which was in favour of the Meitei community. Subsequent protests, primarily led by the All India Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM), escalated into riots and violence. So far, there is no evidence to suggest any direct intervention by the central government in the Manipur violence, and the involvement of Adani or any other corporate entity does not seem to hold merit based on the available information.

Now, moving on to the next claim made by the communist apostles. The accusations are, “As part of their National Mission for Cooking Oil production. Also, 11,000 crores have been allocated for the project. The majority contracts of these have already been allocated to the Adani group, one of the key players in the cooking oil market.” “Adani is behind this they want to do mining in Manipur so they can’t do it through constitution rights so they created this violence so that everyone is run by fear.”

While it’s true that the government of India signed a deal with the Manipur government for palm tree plantations to meet the demand for edible oils, thus restricting the import of edible oil at an enormous cost. However, out of 22 states which have potential areas for palm oil plantations, Manipur ranks significantly below. Moreover, Adani Wilmar’s group which deals in the edible oil business doesn’t appear to be the front runner in grabbing the rights of Manipur palm oil plantations.

According to the report from last year by the Economic Times,  “Diversified agri-business firm Godrej Agrovet on Tuesday said it has inked MoUs with Assam, Manipur and Tripura governments for development and promotion of oil palm cultivation under a central scheme. Godrej Agrovet is the largest oil palm processor in India and works directly with farmers for the entire crop cycle.”

As per information available on the Wilmar International website, Adani Wilmar primarily sources palm oil from Indonesia, followed by Malaysia, and jointly from Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka. In the context of India, Adani Wilmar’s operations are established in various locations, including Haldia, Kakinada, Krishnapatnam, Mangalore, Mudra, and Hazira.

Based on this data, we can draw three key conclusions to address the allegations regarding palm oil cultivation in Manipur:

1- The extent of land allocated for palm oil production in Manipur is notably smaller compared to other Indian states.

2- It is important to note that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Manipur government was signed by Godrej, not Adani Wilmar.

3- Adani Wilmar’s palm oil business is primarily import-oriented, with Indonesia and Malaysia being their main sources of supply.

Advancing on to the next accusations made by the Congress’s MLA, regarding Manipur mining. It is essential to examine the official information available on the Adani Mining Enterprise website. As per their website, Adani Mining is involved in coal mining, iron ore mining, and washery mining operations. Moreover, their mining endeavours are primarily concentrated in three states: Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Orissa.

However, in order to thoroughly investigate the matter and not solely rely on Adani’s website, we sought information from the Indigenous People Movement For Self-Determination and Liberation website. After careful examination, we found that the website listed numerous Indian mining companies involved in mining activities across the northeastern lands, but it notably did not mention Adani Mining Enterprise. Additionally, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) under the Ministry of Mines and Minerals, Government of India, conducted comprehensive geological mapping of Manipur, revealing the presence of various minerals such as limestone, chromite, nickel, copper, malachite, azurite, and magnetite, along with various platinum group of elements (PGE).

It is interesting to note that the Adani group does not engage in mining activities related to any of the minerals mentioned above.

After an exhaustive investigation, we have arrived at three well-supported facts:

1- There is no evidence linking the Modi government or the Adani group to the violence in Manipur.

2- Adani Wilmar’s operations are not tied to palm oil cultivations in Manipur, indicating no direct involvement in the alleged palm oil-related issues in the state.

3-  Adani Mining Enterprise does not engage in mining activities associated with the minerals found in significant quantities in Manipur, as revealed by thorough geological mapping.

In conclusion, it is disheartening to witness the blatant and unfounded animosity directed towards Indian businessmen, particularly from communist and Congress circles. This deep-rooted animosity often leads to ludicrous claims that can further escalate tensions and reignite violence. Such blind hatred and baseless accusations hinder progress and undermine efforts to foster harmony and prosperity.

The goal of the Only Fact Team is to provide authentic news facts and debunk lies to safeguard readers’ interests.

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