GOI hidden agenda behind the creation of Nagalim Issue

Aeroshil Nameirakpam *

I don't need to elaborate about the whole controversy regarding the Nagalim issue and the recent unrest that has occurred due to Muivah's proposed visit to Manipur. With emotions running very high among the Meitei and the Naga communities in NE, the situation is very grim and we are at the brink of a possibility of having a humanitarian crisis when two very powerful communities in the NE region are at the crossroad of having a divide and communal feelings and brink of resorting to violence that will continue for a very long time.

If something like that happens, Manipur will turn into another Bosnia and which the Government of India is not prepared or even capable to handle. But in spite of all these unfortunate possibilities the Government at the center seems unaware or acts ignorant of the present situation and crisis. Recent comments made by Mr. Chidambaram regarding Manipur CM objection to Muivah's Visit as " Someone wants to go to his birthplace and the government there is resisting it, yes there is a problem in Manipur" very much shocked me as I was of the opinion that he was a learned man and always admired his work and his contribution to the central government.

Was he just ignorant about the whole situation or was there a hidden agenda behind the whole drama that has happened. Is the central government not aware of the unrest and agitation by the various ethinic communities in Manipur and Assam who are sending them memorandums and letters explaining the ground realities ?

Now I have started having doubt, there is something which is way beyond the present crisis and there is a controversy and a hidden agenda that has been played against the people of NE as a whole and not just Manipur. It is hight time we try to understand the whole issue, learn from the events and try to get a conclusion on what is happening before its too late and cant do nothing about it.

I have some theories on the controversial issues that has happened over the last couple of decade in NE and the possible reason behind the creation of Nagalim issue and unrest in NE region.

NE CAN NOT BE ALLOWED TO PROSPER- My theory about the whole unrest and disturbance in the region is because NE as a region can not be allowed to prosper because it will lead to more influx of illegal Migrants from Bangladesh which the state of Assam and Tripura know very about its consequences and influx of illegal migrant from Myanmar which is a war ravaged region and people waiting to escape the tyranny of the government anytime. If there is peace in NE that will definitely lead to prosperity and hence will result in the influx of migrants. A disturbed and underdeveloped NE will thwart any illegal immigrants so NE can not be allowed to prosper hence there should not be peace in the region.

NE CAN NOT BE A PEACEFUL REGION AS PEACE LEADS TO PROSPERITY - Now what is the best way to disturb peace and stability in the region. Best way is to divide the people in the region on communal and ethical background as the government is very much aware of the various ethnic groups in the region and the ultimate objected of the militant outfit representing there communities. Nagas only talk of Naga homeland, meitei and Assam militant also do the same.

So why not use one of these militant group to divide the people of the region and NSCN IM happened to be a good choice. By using the Nagalim issue as just a tool the central government can easily bring disunity and drive a wedge among 3 different states and its people namely Manipur, Assam and Arunanchal Pradesh thereby creating disturbance on the major trade hub, power generating and influencial community in the entire North East region.

Holding talks and honouring the objective of other militant groups from Assam or Manipur will not serve this purpose because they dont have any long term objective of creating an autonomous region beyond their present boundary but NSCN IM has such ambitions.

DIVIDE AND RULE POLICY - More then 60 years of trying to suppress the arms struggle by the militant group of the region has caused a lot of loss in life and property for the Indian Security forces. So a new strategy has to be followed. Create division among the militant groups, let them fight among themselves and weaken each other thereby making them so weak so that the last one standing will not be in a position to retaliate when the final military action is taken up. This is the old divide and rule policy the British used against India.

NE INDIA IS JUST A BUFFER ZONE AGAINST CHINESE, BANGLADESH, MYANMAR INFLUENCE - Last but not the least India with a billion population do not need NE people. We are just the people who on the buffer zone protecting the mainland Indian states and its people from Chinese, Bangladeshis and Myanmar influence. NE people do not generate or contribute much to the national income hence, creation of development and path breaking projects is useless and uneconomical, it is evident for the region that foreigner have to take permission to enter the region thereby making it highly unlikely for Foreign Direct investment (FDI) to flow in into the region.

Now how do we come out of this controversy, come out of the vicious cycle of depending on others for our own survival. The blockade that is happening in Manipur should give a good lesson and there is a need for our leaders and decision makers to do something instead of crying and begging to the central government for every petty reason and ever think that they will have mercy on us and we will thrive.

The only way for Manipur to survive in the 21st century is to think beyond party politics and be emotional about everything and takeup some real steps. We should forget about what we dont have and start realizing our potential on what we have and out strength. Some of the things that we can do are :-

1) THE EAST-WEST CORRIDOR HIGHWAY FROM SILCHAR TO IMPHAL - Some years back Ibobi government of Manipur was given a road map or project plan on the possibility of Connecting the 4 lane National Highway East-West corridor connecting Gujarat in the West to Silchar, Assam in the east to reach manipur by connecting from Silchar to Imphal by NH 53.

Corrupt Ibobi Government could not come up with the project proposal and it was not taken up. If this thing has materialized we would never had faced the problem faced by public right now and NSCN IM would never had kept us on ransom. But its better to be late then never.The government can still make it happen by lobbying the central ministers and the East- West corridor reach Manipur.

2) RAIL SERVICE TO MANIPUR AT THE EARLIEST - No doubt the load and volume of movement of goods and commodities will drastically improve if rail service reaches Manipur. This will reduce cost and be more effective mode of transport then a road transport. Government should do it on war footing and protect the rail rout from possible attact by the miscreants. Keep aside lame reasons like "mayangs" will come if railway reaches Manipur.

3) MORE TRADE AND COMMERCE WITH MYANMAR IN MOREH- One way flow of goods only form Mainland india is not enough for the region to survive. There is a necessity of both way traffic and alternative route. Moreover, we can make Imphal a trade hub for goods and services to be exported to Myanmar from India and vice versa. History is evident that any region which is a the crossroad of trade and traffic always prosper. Hence we can make good use of our strategic location.

4) CONVERT IMPHAL AIRPORT TO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - International airport in Manipur will open up the region to neigbouring countries like Thailand, China and other south east Asian region. This will definitely help in increasing the flow and movement of businessmen from the region and increase the possibility of having FDI from south east asian region.

5) NETWORK OF ROADS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT - Investment in roads and public transport will have a direct impact on the development of any region. Hill and plain region should be linked properly with roads and network of public transport so that proper flow of people and commodities happen and thereby break the divide of hill and valley people.

6) USAGE OF INLAND WATERWAYS FOR TRANSPORT - It sounds strange but the various array of rivers flowing in manipur is a potential that we have not realized yet. Proper maintenance of such waterways for transport and ferrying purpose will surely help in reducing the cost on transport and development of tourist spots. It is a natural potential that our forefathers created for us but we haven't used or utilized it properly.

7) CREATION OF SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES(SEZ) - It is well known fact that it is at the power of the state government to create special economic zone without taking permission from the centre as done by Narendra Modi in Gujarat. He raised 25 billion dollars from FDI and investment in the trade fair held last year in Gujarat. Our state government should start creating SEZ ( Special Economic Zones) in the region and promote the same to South east Asian countries and even china. Showing them the easiest way to enter the Indian market is from Manipur.

8) E-GOVERNANCE IN MANIPUR AND STRONG LEADERS - Corruption and misuse of funds has been one of the main plague that has degraded our society for so long. Investment in IT is not something which our state government should give priority. E- Governance and allocating of public projects on bidding done online will surely improve the quality of development projects done in manipur and there will be more free and transparency on government use age of funds.

9) ENHANCING LOKTAK HYDEL AND TIPAIMUKH DAM PROJECT - Although it is controversial topic to talk about Tipaimukh dam project but the long term effect of creation of such a dam will help us become energy independent and Proper usage of water for irrigation. We need to sacrifice something to gain something. As power is very important for any business to develop , if we want companies to set up in Manipur there should be adequate Electricity and Water.

10) HIGHEST PRIORITY TO EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES - Universities ,schools and colleges are the training ground for future leaders of the society. We need to promote more Medical, Engineering colleges and Investment in IT and health care will employ these resources and stop the brain drain and make us self sustaining state.

These suggestions are very much achievable within a span of few years and they are not impossible. I just wish if someone at our decision making community understands and take up some initiative. I feel these are the only ways we can survive in the 21st century and come out of the dark ages.