Economic Blockade not at all related to Muivah's entering Manipur

AK Awungshi *

Mr Ibobi Singh is also known as the most unpopular and hated Chief Minister of Manipur once upon a time because of his corruption, favouritism, groupism, discrimination and inefficiency in tackling the law and order situation in the State in spite of the chaos, turmoil and the impasses being faced by the people.

Amongst the various problems faced by people of Manipur the first one was the killing of two persons at Khwairamband Bazar last year in the month of August in the pretext of encounter which was witnessed by many people. This led to serious public movements against the offenders Iike rallies, dharnas, blockades etc.

Even Schools and colleges were made to close down for 4-5 months as part of the agitation. Then followed closely the Manipur Government Employees' agitational cease work strike against non implementation of the 6th pay commission's recommendation in the State. Government offices including the secretariat wore a deserted look for more than 4 months.

Then came the issue of ADC wherein The All Manipur Tribal peoples raised the objection for holding the District Council election under the old Act of 1971 and the latest Amendment Act 2008 where the word Autonomy was deliberately deleted for reason best known to them. The tribal peoples approached the CM so many times before the election about their dissatisfaction and to do something about it. But he turned a deaf ear.

Hence, the tribal peoples had no option but to resort to enforcing economic blockade on both the National highways. Thus the economic blockade was launched with effect from the 1st week of April 2010 by the Tribal students' organisations ie ATSUM and ANSAM.

As the situation in Manipur was in a desparate condition, cries of the people of Manipur were heard in the ears of Delhi thus, Shri Gopal Krishna Pillai, Home Secretary, Delhi was sent to Manipur to take stock of the situation. The Union Government was learnt to impose PR in Manipur.

But lucky Ibobi, the MHA intimated the chief secretaries of West Bengal, Nagaland and Manipur the itinerary of Shri Th Muivah, General Secretary INSCN-IM for his tour programme to his village and other places in the Naga dominated District HQs of Manipur for strict security coverage. Meanwhile Ibobi along with his Cabinet strongly opposed Muivah entering Manipur.

Thus came the golden opportunity for Ibobi to turn into a HERO casting away all the hate tag since people forgot all the past resentments as their monds were diverted to Muivah's home coming issue.

Mr Ibobi should be grateful to Mr Muivah for helping him acquire this HERO tittle. And he should also not forget that economic blockade was enforced by the Tribal people not due to Muivah's Manipur entry refusal. This blockade had already started from April 1st week before Muivah's programme was received and the blockade us still going on, though Muivah's entering Manipur problem has calmed down completely for the time being.

Ibobi as the head of the State should have been more considerate towards the tribal peoples' demand if he really was a genuine leader for all caste and creed. Instead he went ahead with the election forcibly where only 20% respolnded while 80% rejected. In response, public demolished and burnt down houses of candidates.

This resentment Ibobi should understand as a good administrator of State. But in spite of all these is as cunning as NERO who set the city on fire and suddenly changed the deflecting flames to the Christians. The same tactics Ibobi is applying when shifting the blames of the economic/blockade to the Nagas dovetailing to Muivah's entering Manipur.

Ibobi must understand that "Before God we are all equally wise and equally foolish,". He had also saterically and bilittlely stated before media, "The pull out of IRB from Ukhrul was a tactical move carried out to save the situation only for the time being but deployed at Jessami and Layi Kunou". Ibobi should not use such slanderous and calumnious words on his people as true leader of the State.

Meanwhile Mr. G.K. Pillai is shouting from Shillong that Government's patience is running out, and to deal with a hard hand on those doing it. Does he not know that the patience of the hill people is not running out in spite of their Constitutional rights being suppressed by the Manipur Government? Why can't he ask Ibobi to sort out the problem democratically, so that the blockade can be lifted without further delay?

But we all know who Mr. Pillai is. He should remember what he said once during his first visit to Manipur. "I know Ibobi well; he is the most corrupt politician. If I were the right authority to take action against him, he should not only be dismissed from Chief Ministership, but also should be sent to jail. You know your Chidambaram and Manmohan Singh can do nothing to him as long as his goddess mother is there".

This was the impression of Mr. Pillai those days. But today Mr. Pillai has softened his stand on Ibobi since he is too scared of the goddess mother as the number of his happy days in the Government service are being counted.

We believe economic blockade will not be easily lifted in Manipur unless the tribals' demands are fulfilled.