My Way or the Highway

L Thanglenhao Haokip *

A cliché in Manipur goes something like this : to stop a blockade, another one is called. Now what does it mean? To start with, it means that anybody worth his salt can and does stifle National Highways (NHs) in Manipur even for a trifle. On a serious note, it means, at best, that the general public has become smug and ill-advised to promote public good. And at worst, accountability of the Government has gone off the window.

Naga Nationalism : Salsa on National Highway

The politics of highway has, in the last decade, arrested development with tug-of-wars between Government/s and civil organisations escalating into a widespread denial of quality life. The recent 60-day economic blockade on NHs 53 and 39 by ANSAM smacks of machiavellian operation of bringing home Muivah by opening up alternative front to obviate public minds before his imminent arrival. It is hard to miss the point that the protest against ADC elections and that against Manipur Government's interdiction of Muivah's homecoming could be contemporaneous and accidental. It was stage managed to the detail, given the timing that Indo-Naga Peace Talk was closing in on another chapter.

The Naga bandh-mongers might claim vindicated that the move was, rather than a one-off outburst, a pent-up emotion of the last one decade of Government's apathy to their plight. But that don't seem to buy them a strong rebuttal against the accusation that their contrivance was holding the entire population of Manipur to ransom. In an interview on NDTV 24X7, a Naga leader was heard verbalising Naga nationalism without the slightest compunction to the wretched situation created in the wake of the blockade.

Not a word of apology! Sitting on the ivory tower of luxe, they simply overlooked the poor who lived from hand to mouth day in and day out. Now they might claim that even the Nagas were equally affected. But does that hold water and/or give them unfettered right to play with human existence? Also, if their claim be true, and Nagas too suffered, they are even more culpable of attempt to inflict by constricting the lifeline of the State (via Section 171-C/431/440/120-B of IPC and 8-BNH Act 1956).

2010 evokes a nostalgic throwback to 2005. Barely five years have passed since ANSAM staged in 2005 a 53-day long economic blockade on National Highways in protest against Manipur Government's attempt to declare June 18 as a State holiday (Ironically, the recent economic blockade was temporarily lifted on June 18). This time it has broken its own record, registering a new high of 68 days. Ominously, entities itching to throw their weight about highway politics are dime a dozen even as transporters are doing their bit of the relay highway blockade as of now.

Transporters' Counterstrike : NH 39's last mile

Even after having broken the 68 days jinx, the Government of Manipur is still not in a position to rein in prices of essential goods and commodities to pre-blockade era. The decision of Transporters' and Drivers' Council (TDC) against ever taking NH 39 again was a last straw in the series of highway melodramas. Given that NH 53 would take time to develop and that depending solely on it, as is planned, doesn't make a good economic sense, the woeful plight of the people will not get lessened any time soon.

It is understandable that transporters have to negotiate hard against extortionists and pay through their noses to get supplies through Dimapur-Imphal stretch. But, one doesn't see the point in singing swan song for NH 39, simply because NH 53 is not infested with such elements as yet. Can anyone guarantee that highway rogues will spare NH 53 for all time to come after having developed supply-demand link through it?

Interestingly, it's not only the transporters who are waiting to sing requiem for NH 39. The Government of the day is equally zealous of the act while sending out its condolence. The Chief Minister, O Ibobi couldn't forbear from getting the message across that NH 53 is his Government's top priority (and the only priority, if I may add).

In the process, he stops short of implying that NH 39 and all its inhabitants are forever condemned. At the face of Look-East Policy, do we have the leeway to pick and drop corridors as we please? When the leviathan called GoI arrives, it will take its own course based on rational cost-benefit equation. Is the Manipur Government bereft of judicious mind or is there something more than meets the eye?

Incidentally, one fails to understand why immobilising National Highways should be the only means to generate Government's attention; fails to understand too why the Government only responds to such drastic steps. Both sides need to scale down their approaches and not simply wait to buckle under duress.

Highway Politics : Subterfuge or Vision Document

The surface noise apart, one cannot help but probe into the possibility of subterfuge underneath the goings-on. Apparently, highway politics can and does disparage social, economic and psychological integrity. Let's start with a moot question and take its tentacles forward. Is it possible that Mr CM is puppet in the hands of powerful brokers?

In a fit of doubtfulness, certain hypothesis gets overrated in our rationalisation. To absolve himself of this assault he has to engage in something more than rhetoric. Answers are warranted for some unpalatable questions (I may be excused for my innocuous observations).

Mr CM, do you honestly believe that PWD will better handle NH 53 than BRO? The state of roads under PWD brings out the cynic in us all. The unholy politician-underground-bureaucrat-businesses/contractor alliance climaxing in percentage cuts ultimately leading to shoddy infrastructure is not unknown. Also given widespread nepotism and red tapism in PWD, we are afraid it's not going to impress us with any public work, let alone highways. The worst news is that the span of influence of the openly secret liaison has extended from NH 53 all the way to the bank at the cost of public exchequer.

Again, is there an ironic twist of timing to it or were you waiting for appropriate time to make your move? It's not like we are facing economic and life plundering blockade/bandh for the first time in history. Were you caught napping through the antecedent transgressions? Why now?

Also, is the Government pursuing a policy of profiling communities and ethnicities? While the striking transporters are allowed to run amuck, ANSAM, before them, was handled with iron hand for technically the same antic. Why? It would seem that a crime of the same gravity committed by different communities would not attract the same penalty. Whatever happened to rule of law and law book? Jobbing and posting are clearly on communal line. Even the highest police post (DGP) is not spared.

Sorry Mr CM for asking hard questions, the answer of which is in everybody's lips. Sorry also for I did not bother to highlight your achievements which I am sure is aplenty. After all, scrutinies are part of the giveaway deal with such august office. A person ceases to be himself after he takes on public office; he is the face of hundreds of people who repose faith on him. He relinquishes the 'I' and becomes one with the 'We'/'Us'.

As for the 'Vision Document' bit, well it remains to be seen as things unfurl within the next few months. Perhaps we ought to give the Government a couple of years if it is serious about its intention. We understand that gestation of ideas takes time but nothing beats a good head start, since patience can run out fast.

In the meanwhile, we as communities of people, let's not at the slightest provocation get confrontational to the point of hollering 'My Way or the Highway!' It's always wise to sit across the table and hear each other out. Both of us can be wrong rightly, for every argument has three sides —your side, my side, and the right side.

Let's bring peace back in our discourse, let's negotiate, and let's disengage political action from National Highways. Let's give peace and development a chance.