Issues never in short supply : From ILP, MU to FA
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: August 03 2018 -
Issues are never in short supply in Manipur.
The demand for a mechanism to regulate the inflow of non-locals into the State of Manipur seems to have been addressed to a certain extent with the State Assembly passing the Manipur People’s Bill in the Monsoon session.
But one can never say how things will progress from here for remember the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has categorically said no to a number of provisions in the Bill.
It is also not yet known whether the Bill will get the nod from the Governor and the Centre.
But for the time being the matter seems to have been addressed to and this is what is noteworthy.
The last word is yet to be said on the Border Pillar row at Kwatha Khunou, but with Union MoS for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju categorically stating that there is no border dispute, one will have to wait and see how others respond or react.
After more than 60 days, the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development has finally ‘responded’ to the MU crisis and given 30 days leave to Vice Chancellor Professor Adya Prasad Pandey, with effect from August 2, to let the probe panel investigate charges levelled against him by Manipur University Students’ Union (MUSU), Manipur University Teachers’ Association (MUTA) and Manipur University Staff Association (MUSA).
Tough to say how MUSU, MUTA and MUSA will respond to the new development for remember their one line demand has been ‘remove AP Pandey.’
On the other hand no one should forget that what is at stake here is not so much about who emerges victorious in the stand off between the VC and the university community, but the future of thousands of students, particularly the 6th Semester students.
This is a point which should not be forgotten even as the university community digest the latest development. Something has been done and this should be noted.
On the other hand, another issue which has been haunting the collective psyche of the people is the ongoing political dialogue between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM).
With the Framework Agreement inked on August 3, 2015 still kept a closely guarded secret, it is understandable why the anxiety of the people has multiplied with each passing day.
This is all that more so after Interlocutor to the peace talk RN Ravi divulged to the Joint Parliamentary Committee that the provisions of Article 371 (A) may be extended to all Naga inhabited areas in the States neighbouring Nagaland.
This has not gone down well with the neighbouring States and the massive response to the 24 hours bandh called by AMUCO, CCSK and UCM which Manipur just witnessed is testimony to where the people of Manipur stand.
Tough to say how things will develop in the coming days but if and when the final deal is struck, one can expect something from Manipur.
This is where the BJP led Government at Imphal will need to exercise all its wisdom and see how it can influence the BJP led Government at Delhi and see that no deal is struck which can be seen as being infringing on the interest of Manipur in any way.
Of all the issues mentioned here, the deal with the NSCN (IM) will surely prove to be the toughest and trickiest.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.