LEP and Manipur losing her territory : Distorted sense of diplomatic ties
- Sangai Express Editorial :: July 30, 2013 -

To the left of the border fence which has come up is the territory of Manipur :: Pix - TSE

The contradiction runs deep.

Look East Policy pursued with vigour and on the other hand Delhi keeping mum or maintaining a studied silence on the prospect of Manipur losing a huge chunk of her territory to Myanmar.

It was some sort of an irony, but on the day that The Sangai Express (July 29, 2013 edition) carried the story of how Manipur stands to lose large tracts of her territories to Myanmar another news story highlighted the visit of the Indian Ambassador to Myanmar to Shija Hospitals and Research Institute, wherein he assured that all possible steps would be taken up to ensure better connectivity between Myanmar and Manipur.

Place the two stories on the same plate and a sweet and sour dish may just emerge.

Look East Policy, Integrated Check Post at Moreh, banking facilities, visa on arrival, bus service between Imphal and Mandalay all perfectly go to make up the policy of opening the eastern door.

But place this against the seeming indifference of Delhi to the prospect of Manipur losing her territories to Myanmar and a pattern emerges, a pattern which says that Manipur is in reckoning just as by pass to the east.

In a way it also reflects where Manipur stands in the larger scheme of things which have come under the Look East Policy.

The idea of Manipur being central to the Look East Policy may not extend beyond her geographical location.

A thorough fare, a route through which the policy is to be pursued, especially in the backdrop of the changing power and economic equation in South and South East Asian countries, notably China.

For all practical purposes, Delhi may care two hoots, if Manipur is made to cede a major portion of her territories to Myanmar, as long as there is a strip of land which India can claim as its territory to proceed eastwards and reap the dividends.

In other words, it could well mean, Manipur will merely serve as the thorough fare with the people left at their own peril. Myanmar is clear on where its territory on the lies along the border. Delhi is indifferent to this. This difference should not go unnoticed.

The details have been spelt out in the story carried by The Sangai Express in the July 29 edition.

A good number of villages on the side of Manipur are on the verge of being put on the other side of the boundary, via the border fencing that has been taken up 10 kms inside Indian or Manipur’s territory.

Time to wake up to the fact that there is the growing need to edit the script that is being played out on the border.

Remember Manipur shares a 398 km long border with the neighbouring country and an inch given along the whole stretch would amount to quite a huge tract of territory gifted to the neighbouring country.

This cannot be called friendly relationship.

This cannot come under the ambit of diplomatic ties and understanding.

This cannot be a part of the Look East Policy.

It is nothing but selling out the interest of Manipur.

Or is Delhi intent on selling out the interest of Manipur in pursuit of a policy ?

Or is it a case of the Government of Myanmar taking India for a ride, at the cost of Manipur ?

Ignorance or plain indifference on the part of the Delhi mandarins ?

The answers to these questions can come only from Delhi and from the men helming the affairs but this should not mean that the State Government should sleep over the matter or take it lightly.

Manipur cannot be made to pay the price for a policy that is meant for the whole country and not only the State.

This is the message that the State Congress Government should convey to Delhi in no uncertain terms.

Or is this asking for too much ? Expecting too much ?

Relevant questions, given how weak kneed the State Government is when it comes to putting up the interest of the people and the land before Delhi.