Crisis, fear and response
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: July 14 2015 -
There are two normative understandings to the phenomenon of state response.
The first one is related to policy framework and implementation while the second one is related to the usual temporal appeasement of those representing the voices of dissent over policy matters.
Apart from the protracted armed political violence, the States in Northeast region are often prone to calamities of different kinds.
One near permanent marker of these States has been the frequent failure of implementing programmes and policies set by the government itself. These crises have been often accompanied by inconsequential ready-made explanations.
Under such understanding, one is not sure if Chief Minister O Ibobi is actually convinced when he sought Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) from the Centre for the "protection of the indigenous people" during his address at the security meeting of all Northeastern Chief Ministers with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Guwahati recently.
He has insisted on a suitable legislation for protection of the indigenous people of Manipur as done in neighbouring States like Nagaland, Mizoram and also Arunachal Pradesh.
However, one point that needs to be appreciated is the argument he put forward that the Centre should bring in uniform legislation for all the Northeast States on the issue in line with the ILPS.
While one may read the Chief Minister’s point purely from the axiom of State response to the intense pressure generated by the Joint Action Committee on ILPS or JCILPS, no one can underplay the impact of the movement launched by the JCILP that resulted into a massive agitation in the valley districts.
As of now Chief Minister Ibobi seems to be at least convinced by certain arguments put forth by the JCILPS. Time will tell whether or not his conviction is based on wisdom or the necessity of pleasing the agitators.
The Chief Minister’s understanding of the issues may draw flak from the opposition and he could be once again cornered for the late reaction to the demand for the JCILPS. The current stalemate can now be settled only when the Government considers all the points raised by the JCILPS.
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