Time for Introspection
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: August 15 2015 -

As India celebrates the 69th Independence Day, Manipur, particularly the valley region, reels under uneasy calm as a result of State Government’s failure to produce an Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) Bill by August 15.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has already admitted that it will not be possible to present the much awaited Bill on or before August 15. The August 15 deadline had been set by Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS).

According to the Chief Minister, the Government is facing certain difficulties in expediting the process and pointed out that “every word and point on the framing of the Bill needs detailed inside-out discussion”.

Even though Ibobi had appealed for cooperation and support from all, as soon the Government expressed its inability to present the bill before August 15, JCILPS announced a ‘state-wide 12 hour public curfew’ on Friday starting 4 am.

The committee further urged all to stage sit-in protests on August 15 from 10 am till 3 pm and urged all to form human chains.

Miffed with the Government’s statement, even the JCILPS Student Wing vowed to further intensify the ongoing agitation till the ILPS is fully implemented in Manipur.

The reason for the renewed call to intensify the agitation is simple. JCILPS feels that the Government has continuously failed to fulfil people’s demand on implementing an inner line permit system in the State to safeguard the indigenous people of Manipur.

With no immediate breakthrough, it is apparent that there will be palpable absence of enthusiasm and gaiety as expected in all high official rituals associated with India’s 69th Independence Day observation.

Moreover, four major proscribed groups of the Northeast have also called for a “total shutdown” of the region on Independence Day.

While the physical absence of citizens from the official celebration of India’s independence day can be understood, there seems to be a growing “fatigue” with all forms of ritualism associated with the State Government.

While analysing the historical significance of India’s Independence Day, now is the time to reflect on how the growing reluctance of the citizens here can contribute to overall alienation of the people from the mainstream.

Time for a real introspection!