Witoubou Newmai
The manner in which Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and his men run the Government has serious aberrations which have so far evaded critical scrutiny of the Nagas and the Kukis in Manipur. Of late, the ‘anti-tribal bills’ movement became a unifying force of the hill people in Manipur, which in turn, threatens the political future of the Congress Government and its legislators. With the State Assembly election just few months away, the Manipur State Government is desperate to find a way out for those ruling Congress legislators hailing from the hill districts. Thus, raking up the Sadar Hills district creation issue is the sure bait of the State Government of Manipur in dismantling the tribal bonhomie as well as prop up Congress candidates. A plaque of Sadar Hills district inauguration complete with the names of Chief Minister of Manipur O Ibobi Singh and Deputy Chief Minister G Gaikhangam engraved on it stands tall and clear today at Kangpokpi, the headquarters of Sadar Hills. This plaque is telling in its assertion that Gaikhangam had given his consent to be part of the declaration programme of Sadar Hills district. The intense agitation by the Nagas under the banner of the United Naga Council (UNC) had resulted in the flip-flop stand of the Chief Minister and his team. When over hundred days of intense agitations in the year 2011 led by the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) had failed to stimulate the callous Ibobi Singh government, how come the same government, all of a sudden, is displaying an over-brimming enthusiasm for the creation of Sadar Hills district? This has come at a time when the tribal people are more focused on ‘anti-tribal bills’ related issues. They refuse to bury their dead even after one year. In this, ‘cynical’ is the best word to describe a government armed with its best offer of injecting another dangerous portent to an already distraught society such as this. The pro-Sadar Hills district will definitely come up with their move on the matter. However, it may be reminded that on December 14, 1981 the first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Nagas and the Manipur government on Sadar Hills issue followed by several MoUs including those of November 10, 1992, September 27, 1996 and June 23, 1998, and finally, a written assurance to the Nagas by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on November 24, 2011. The Nagas have every reason to be unhappy with the Manipur State Government. Bleak days are ahead as the United Naga Council has declared that unless a concrete assurance is given by the concerned authority regarding the new districts issue, the indefinite economic blockade on National Highways and on national projects in Naga territories of Manipur will continue. The prevailing situation has the potential to invite another catastrophe similar to the 1990s. Given this situation and history, and recognizing the urgency of the matter, a diplomatic intervention is the need of the hour.