Quixotically blaming media for blockade call
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: November 05, 2022 -

ALL Manipur Tribals Development Grievances Forum (AMTDGF) has cited assurance given by the government for phase wise release of the pending MGNREGS fund meant for job card holders for withdrawal of its economic blockade call but one can't miss the fact that the Forum lacked the support of both the tribal population and organisations.

As enforcement of bandh or blockade cannot be effective without the endorsement by like-minded civil societies and unconditional support of the public, it is but natural for the Forum to introspect whether or not to persist with its agitation, which is basically to cut off the lifeline of the people, bring the government to its knees and honour the demand.

Such pressure tactics had been the hallmark of any organisation that launched agitation to express dissent against government policies or draw attention of the authorities concerned.

In notable deviation from the past when imposition of bandh anti blockade had spontaneous backing of different organisations, while those opposed to any disruptive movement simply waited for the government to invite the aggrieved parties to the negotiating table, this time around the Forum's decision to lay siege on the national highways failed to evoke favourable response from even tribal bodies regardless of the agitation claimed to be intended to uphold interest of the tribal people.

With influential civil societies like the Naga People's Organisation, which out-rightly rejected the mode of agitation, and different tribal bodies making it public that the blockade will not be enforced in their respective areas, it appears that the Forum had to do a rethinking.

Though it referred to the government's assurance of releasing the pending amount of fund as the reason for ending the highway blockade within few hours of it coming into effect, if any, one can comprehend that lukewarm response from tribal organisations could have compelled the Forum to retract its stand and act as per the pulse of the public.

As the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department had dismissed the fund misuse allegation levelled by the Forum and conveyed that process is underway for release of the pending fund, on the same day the Forum announced to go ahead with the agitation plan, it is hard to digest that the government's assurance could be the only reason for cancellation of the blockade.

Nevertheless, the present government deserves to be credited for such a turnaround as its success in emancipating the state from the past chronic ills of bandh and blockade has been able to make the masses aware about socio-economic significance of a disturbance-free society.

Since formation of the BJP-led government in the state in 2017, the establishment has been striving to remove the bandh/blockade tag from Manipur and it's an undeniable fact that the present government has been fairly successive in its endeavour to prevent disruption caused to normal chores.

However, as there are various issues pending solution, it is suggested that the government authorities invite the aggrieved parties to iron out the differences instead of trying to blame the media for carrying reports on bandh/blockade call as denial of such information is akin to exposing the public and transport operators to perilous situation.