His excellency : A lover of Manipur

Free Thinker *

Ajay Kumar Bhalla has been sworn in as the 17th Governor of Manipur on January 03 2025 :: Pix - DIPR Manipur

People at large have been experiencing positive feelings in the last few weeks under the leadership of His Excellency Shri Bhalla the Governor of Manipur with the pleasure of the Hon. President of India (guided by Union HM). Many murmurs in the streets of Manipur that “better late than never”. Gradually peace is returning to the State but redeeming normalcy may take some time and restoration of ethnic harmony may take years.

A huge economic package is expected from the Centre for the State of Manipur for relief, rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction (post ethnic conflict). Ex-gratia must be handed over to the families of the deceased without any further delay. Appropriate compensation must be provided to the grievously injured as well as for the properties destroyed or damaged. Hopefully Nirmala ji will do the needful.

Majority of the people in the State still believe in the ‘Idea of Manipur’ and they still long for peaceful co-existence with all the communities, tribes, ethnic groups and even with the outsiders who came after Independence (1947) and Merger (1949).

As a matter of fact, the Government of India has a moral obligation to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur. It must not change the geography of Manipur which was merged to India on 21 September, 1949 (with effect from 15 Oct 1949).

Therefore, an exception to Article 3 of the Indian Constitution ought to be provided to protect the territorial sanctity of Manipur. In common parlance a kind of Constitutional safeguard must be provided to the State of Manipur in order to protect its territorial integrity for all times to come.

At the same time a novel land law along with a uniform land rights may be introduced for all the bonafide inhabitants of Manipur. Such a law may be enacted by the competent legislature (State or Union or by both). Outdated customary practices pertaining to land rights and ownership must be done away with; a new land law acceptable to all the natives must be enacted.

The process of disarming the citizens must be completed by June as directed by HM. According to a report more than 50 percent of the looted arms have been returned/recovered. Disarming should not be limited to recovery of weapons taken away from state armories, it should also include all illegal weapons smuggled or bought from unlawful sources.

Considering the popular issues like “Meitei ST status”, “Legalization of poppy plantation or Alternative”, “Separate Administration” and “Uniform Civil Code & Land Law” etc., Govt of India may take steps to examine or reexamine these issues. Dialogue process may be initiated for these crucial issues. Right now, Naga dialogue is going on. Dialogue itself is a peaceful process/settlement.

In the meanwhile, the Government must ensure unhindered free movement of people and goods along the National and State Highways. Considering the bad experience of prolonged economic blockades by militants, for keeping the Highways open a dedicated Highway Protection Force may be set up. Village volunteers and local militias from both the sides may be recruited for such a benevolent Force (fully funded by Centre).

Resettlement of all the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)to their original place of habitation must be initiated at the earliest using all possible state resources with proper security arrangement.

Reconstruction of houses and buildings destroyed must be done at the war footing before the restoration of a popular government of the state. All adequate security must be provided to those who are coming back to their respective homes till they feel safe and secure.

Illegal migrants must be identified. Foreigners should be denied all rights and privileges including marriages; if possible, they should be deported. Proper Census Record must be established before initiating the process of delimitation in the State. Ideally the delimitation process may be kept frozen till a clear census and churning out of aliens is completed.

Moreh must be developed as a brisk trading town as indicated in the Act East Policy. To achieve that, it must be emancipated from lawlessness; law & order must be maintained to facilitate free and fair trade. A dedicated Central Force may provide security to this important commercial hub.

It is pertinent to mention that in the last quarter of the last century Moreh was inhabited by Tamils, Punjabis, Meiteis, Nagas, Kukis, and several other tribes & communities. Multi-cultural cosmopolitan character must be redeemed in order to make it a vibrant commercial center at the Indo-Myanmar border – what about converting it as a Cantonment Commercial Centre!

One part time thinker of my-type says the Free Movement Regime (FMR) must be introduced at the Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-pak borders also. Indo-Myanmar FMR may kindly be suspended till such demands are met. There should not be any unequal treatment to the common people of Akhand Bharat.

Dr. Krishna Gopal ji (a staunch Manipur lover) one of the top brasses in the RSS hierarchy has put pressure on both sides to talk through people-to-people contacts or through the Parivar platforms. Responses remain encouraging in Delhi, Guwahati and now in Manipur. Eavesdroppers heard him saying “let the government do what they can do, let us also do what we can do, it is already too late.”

Hope, Manipur lovers succeed in their endeavor to bring peace and save the land and its people including Awas, Ahoms, Khakis, Takhels and Mayangs who landed before 1961.