'31st Oct', a crucial date for Sadar Hills
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, October 29 2015: October 31 is a crucial date in the decades old unresolved Sadar Hills districthood issue in Manipur.

Back in 2011 it was on this date that an MoU was signed between the State Government and the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) to bring to an end the '123 days agitation' .

Will 31st October, after three infertile years, become just a crucial date again for the second time in the history of Sadar Hills movement, is what the current talk of the town is.

Gossiping, debating, and discussion with contrasting anticipation looms large over the entire Sadar Hills with only a few days left of the deadline set by MLAs and MDCs of Sadar Hills to declare it (Sadar Hills) as a full-fledged district.

Among many other movements on the Sadar Hills issue the 2011 blockade which is also popularly known as '123 days agitation' began with a sit-in-protest of elected ADC Sadar Hills members on July 26 at the then ADC complex.

Interestingly the current elected ADC Sadar Hills members again took up the 'present movement' by holding a sit-in-protest on October 26 at its administrative office complex.

The 2011 Sadar Hills movement culminated with the signing of MoU between Manipur Government and SHDDC in the 'midnight' of 31st October, 2011 while the present three MLAs of Sadar Hills and elected MDCs have set 31st October, 2015 as the deadline for the State Government to declare Sadar Hills as a full-fledged district.

File photo of a car burnt down in 2011

Will the Congress Government in Manipur fulfil the cherished dreams of Sadar Hills as a district on October 31 'Midnight' ? Is it hard to believe or is there any possibility ? If the decades old dream is not realized this time, will the elected MLAs and MDCs either resign or go with the ruling Congress party ? Will the people once again come out on the streets to relive the 123 days agitation of 2011 ? These are among the questions which the denizens of Sadar Hills are currently grappling with and debating.

On the fateful midnight of 31st October, 2011 the Government of Manipur agreed to upgrade Sadar Hills to the status of a full-fledged district within six months after the 11th Assembly election.

This was also mentioned in the MoU signed with SHDDC.

However, even after three years, the agreement remains only on paper.

"I am saddened whenever there is talk about Sadar Hills", an emotional woman who had been part of the hunger strike during the 2011 Sadar Hills stir said and added "God only knows what actually is going to happen this time" .

It will be sad if the State Government again fails to fulfil the cherished dream of the people of Sadar Hills, she added.

Another woman leader who led the women of Sadar Hills during the '123 days agitation' said that people of Sadar Hills have made it known to the world their aspiration, existence and sense of unity during the 2011 movement and added, "we will continue to do so if our legitimate rights are viciously denied further" .

Some youth at Kangpokpi said that they are ready to go ahead with whatever forms of agitation for the cause of Sadar Hills because "our future depends on it" .

One veteran politician, who was also once a member of ADC Sadar Hills averred that Manipur Government has committed a blatant mistake in delaying the declaration of Sadar Hills as a full-fledged district.

He continued that if the State Government still delays in resolving the Sadar Hills issue it will only create radical movements and will be a political blunder.

Upgrading Sadar Hills to a district will only consolidate the integrity of Manipur, he added.

Subsequent to the three elected Congress MLAs of Sadar Hills, earlier warning to resign if the State Government fails to declare Sadar Hills as a full-fledged district, elected MDCs of Sadar Hills also served an ultimatum to the State Government on October 26 during its sit-in-protest that they will either resign or sever ties with the Congress party if Sadar Hills is not declared a full-fledged district before October 31 .

With only a day or two left, the people of Sadar Hills await.