ILP: Take up the gauntlet Mr MLA

Maisnam Bomcha *

Sit-in-protest at Imphal areas demanding implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) on 11 July 2012
Pix - Bunti Phurailatpam

The present MLAs were elected by the people on their avowed intent of serving the people. Now is the opportunity to fulfill that promise and show just for once that they also care for something they are meant to be doing.
– Maisnam Bomcha

The latest ground reality first. The demand for the implementation of the ILP has been rejected by the central government. The Manipur Legislative Assembly has passed a private member's bill to urge theCentre to enforce the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873. It is now reportedly with the Centre and a decision is awaited. And a large section of the Manipuri society rejoiced. The government of Manipur has released K Birahari Sharma from jail and even sent an indirect and implicit message that the issue has been resolved.

Now let us consider the circumstances under which the initial demand for enforcement of the ILP was rejected. The Centre gave an outrageous and skewed rationale that the ILP was enforced in the other NE states before the constitution was enacted. Does this mean that they can't do what the British did; now that India is fully sovereign?

Or worse still, is it a message that the possible scenario of Manipur swamped by outsiders is a better option than the time of MPs and some paper works; amending a law or making a new one entails? Or is it simply an indication that the present dispensation in Delhi considers Ibobi and his ilk cheap 'hangers on'? Not to be taken seriously. A most plausible explanation. If pursued earnestly and rightly, the earlier request would not have been dismissed so summarily and so quickly. Remember earlier popular demands of the people; shifting of the AR from Kangla or abrogation of the AFSPA took ages to be accepted; even to be rejected!

If our MLAs think that they have done what they ought to have done, then they have not done anything.Maybe except for the honorable member Dr. I Ibohalbi. The Manipur Assembly had no other choice than voting for a smooth passage of the Bill. No politician in their right mind would have risked opposing it. Practically the government as well as the opposition has not done anything worthwhile for the collective wish of the people to be realized. And the movement has not moved an inch.

Now, the possible outcome. The present government at the Centre is saddled with its own problems. Its hands are full with the MHA, the ministry where the request of the Manipur government is headed to facing a plethora of problems; the issue of the recent alleged killing of innocents by the CRPF being the latest, which attracted the criticism of even a fellow senior cabinet minister.

The different ministries are pursuing their own agenda and the notion of a collective decision taking of the cabinet is sorely missing. UPA-ll is so rudderless and its governance found so wanting that the TIME magazine in its recent issue described it 'underachievers'.

Not that acceptance or otherwise of the demand of the Manipur government depends on the performance of the central government; but weighed by the compulsions of a collision government and overtly demanding partners, PM Dr Manmohan Singh despite his lofty intents and an enviable personal integrity is a hard pressed man and his team and party are busy in fighting an eroding mandate. Another important factor which must be kept in mind is that the 'Look East' policy of the Centre, per se, is inimical to the very concept of the ILP.

Even during the more effective days of the UPA-l, quick decisions were never the forte of the government of PM Dr Manmohan Singh. Coupled with the above factors, will it not be utopian to expect a quick and favorable response from the Centre? After all, the Centre has its own priorities and interests. Successful demand of the implementation of the ILP is not impossible, but not an easy deal. A hard bargain with a sincere and single minded intent is the need of the hour.

Next, what can the peoples' representatives do towards fulfilling the demand? What do you do when a democratic way of demanding something fails? Simple - more democracy, so said a wise man. The present MLAs were elected by the people on their avowed intent of serving the people.

Now is the opportunity to fulfill that promise and show just for once that they also care for something they are meant to be doing. Go back to the people and make a public pledge. Declare that you are willing to go any democratic extent. Assuage the fear of the public that they are at present under the threat of allowing a dubious Rubicon to be crossed. Becoming a minority in a place of their own.

Having done that, plead and bargain from a position of strength. Doing any noble deed demands some sacrifices. Sacrifices require strength of character. Show it and let the people who matters know that when the push does not suffice, you are ready for the shove. If Delhi does not listen to reason; resign en mass. The government and the party at the Centre can ill afford to lose a sweeping mandate and a stable government at the beginning of an inning.

That too, at a time when a turbulent storm is silently but surely sweeping the political landscape of the country. Let there be fresh elections and let the people decide. I need not be a psephologist to predict the outcome. People will reelect you with a renewed vigour. And also love doing it.

Coming back to the ground reality, evidently the government and the legislature has managed to befool the public once again. The gullible hoi polloi has drunk the poisoned chalice. Just what were the reasons to be upbeat about and all those euphoric brouhaha? And what are the bodies demanding implementation of the ILP doing? Has the issue been consigned to the realm of a short public memory?

As such it has been gathering dust since the early eighties. In any case there is a distinct surfeit of JACs in our society now. Don't they say too many cooks spoils the broth? Also too many sit-in protests and bandhs for petty issues are taking the edge away when serious and worthwhile issues crop up. I had my own reservations about the implementations of the ILP. The prospect of tourism, for instance. Another reason for not being a staunch votary is the availability of other means for which we do not have to beg. The way I suggested in an earlier column may take time in its realization but at the end of the day,exercise of patience and restraints is always a better option than avoidable loss of lives and properties. But so far as economic rule of the Mayangs is ended the end result justifies any means as long as these are non-violent. Also it is the demand of the people.

The tourism angle is not so overbearing in the present context. People of Manipur do not sustain on an income of tourism. When it happens, when aggressively marketed, I know empirically that our Sana Leipak is no less beautiful and enchanting than any major tourist attraction in India. Tourist will flock, if invited rightly, ILP or not.

During the peak of militancy, amid kidnapping of tourists even, people didn't stop going to Kashmir. And ILP will not make Manipur another Jarawa island of the Andaman and Nicobar where tourists are prohibited to enter still today. Who knows the present noise may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

A little seclusion adds allure and curiosity. Tourism is a globally blooming business and will remain so, now that we live in a global village. People are waiting to rush.

Only the right earnest and honesty of intent and action is required. Are you listening Messrs Rulers? No race or nation can flourish on a foundation of lies and dishonesty. Let us be honest to ourselves at least. We do not need the, 'Switzerland of the East' endorsement of a lying libertine. Manipur is a beautiful place and we are a beautiful people.

PS: There is a murmur that the resolution to urge the central government to enforce the BEFR Act is not yet sent to the Centre.