Boycott Ibobi, welcome Zeliang : Deep, deep divide
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: October 24 2016 -
The divide is deep, very deep. And this is what is worrying.
It is more than the Tangkhul Naga Long boycotting the proposed visit of the Chief Minister and some council of the Ministers to Ukhrul to inaugurate some projects but is a damning statement on how much the hills have become alienated from the valley.
Or anyone who is perceived to represent the valley or the State of Manipur. Why is it that some Naga civil society organisations are so removed from whatever it is that represent Manipur ?
There may be any reasons for this, but this is not at all a comfortable thought.
Juxtapose the boycott of the Chief Minister’s visit to Ukhrul and the red carpet that was rolled out for Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang when he came to attend the meeting of Naga village authorities at Yaikongpao in Sadar Hills on October 19 and things will become a little more clear.
So while the red carpet was rolled out for the Nagaland Chief Minister, the proposed visit of O Ibobi to Ukhrul stands boycotted with the TNL going ahead and imposing a public boycott at the five villages which the Chief Minister and his team are scheduled to visit.
Also important to note that while O Ibobi will take the chopper to go to Ukhrul, TR Zeliang came by road all the way from Kohima to Sadar Hills.
More than an indication that he was welcomed all the way from Mao gate to Sadar Hills which will be in stark contrast when Ibobi proceeds to Ukhrul as scheduled.
What is the message that can be read into the boycott of the Chief Minister’s proposed visit to Ukhrul and the red carpet rolled out for TR Zeliang ?
Is it just the boycott of the Chief Minister and the rousing welcome to another individual from Nagaland or is there something more to this ?
The answer should be obvious to all and this is what is disturbing to note.
And in all probability this has something solid to do with the growing demand for the integration of all Naga inhabited areas under one administrative unit or the call for a separate administration for the hills.
At the crux will undoubtedly be the demand for a Greater Lim and the equally intense call for the protection of the territorial integrity of Manipur.
Or are these demands just political or does it say something solid about the social and emotional ties between the people of the hills and the valley ?
The harsh reality is, the divide between the hills and the valley runs deep, very deep and no slogans will be able to bridge this divide.
Time for the people on either side to sincerely work and see how they can walk closer together.
This is certainly not the time to pull the people apart for in the end it will only affect the common people and this will not serve the interest of anyone.
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