Option of President's Rule in Manipur

Dr Th Suresh Singh *

Ibobi calls on Rajnath Singh, Centre expresses concern over blockade on Jan 18 2017 :: Pix - TSE

The UNC sponsored economic blockade has entered almost 11 weeks now. Latest newspaper reports are indicating the following : i) on 15/11/2016, the centre called a tripartite meeting at Delhi.

It was not held as Manipur Govt. representatives did not attend. In between, the Centre repeatedly blaming the state government for its failure to maintain law and order as it is a state subject. The state, meanwhile, blamed the centre repeatedly for its failure to protect the 2 national highways as it is a national highway.

ii) on December 22 last, Union home Ministry asked the the State Govt. to fulfill its constitutional obligations by opening the 2 NH and to get essential items for the public.

iii) the centre had given 40 para-military force company in addition to the already existing 135 force company.

And, this is enough to for the state to perform its constitutional rights, according to the centre. iv) on January 18th evening, our CM Ibobi Singh met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh as per Rajnath's invitation.

It is reported that Rajnath told Ibobi that it will be forced to use other constitutional means if the state cannot perform its duty of providing essential items to the public. It is further reported that Nagaland CM T.R. Jeliang, who was also called to Delhi, was sternly told for smooth passage of Manipur bound essential items at NH2.

Consequent to this, our CM is calling a meeting of combined forces at 3.30 pm on 19/01/1017 to strategize the opening of the 2 NH.

Role of NGOs : A 17 member team of Joint Forum for Peace is meanwhile trying to meet PM Narendra Modi at Delhi to brief him about the latest situation here in Manipur and to press for reopening of the controversial 2 NHs. It is claimed that it represents 64 different groups.

Meanwhile another group, the Goodwill Mission, has met our Governor on 18th this month to chalk out the conditionality of the proposed meeting between State Govt. and UNC at old secretariat hall on 23 rd this month. All these, governmental and non-governmental, meetings/ proposed meetings ( though laudable in principle) seems to have no effect or likely to have little effect to end the blockade. These are all time-cnsuming.

The public became and continues to become a punching bag for no fault of it. Manipur is in serious crisis now. Petrol pump is running dry now and then, essential food items in short supply.

In addition, the worst demonetization effect among Indian states ( I mean banks in collusion with thefts- 20-30% black money exchange)is seen with SBI branches in unlimited qs still now. There is no governance. Manipuris (hill and valley) had tolerated enough and is now demanding normalcy.

Had it happened anywhere in other parts of India, there would have been many foreseen effects including disruption of Parliament and Assembly proceedings. But not for our state as our MPs are either ignorant or not interested. The same is true for our MLAs. In other state, 3 or 4 days disruption is enough to bring the state and central govt. to their feet , but not in our state.

The same is true for Ibobi Government. Why the state government is unable to bring enough petrol and essential items? What is the difficulty the state govt. has? Now enough force is available, why can't the Govt. arrange these items? Don't they have enough force?

Regarding demonetization–did CM or the Chief Secretary ever take up the deficiencies pointed above with RBI or Central Govt. with daily monitoring? These are the questions bound to be asked by the silent common but innocent people. These are the quarries bound to be asked by an Opinion Maker like me.

Regarding State BJP, It is surprising that the state unit has not pleaded for PR seriously. Instead of taking up these pertinent maters with the central Govt., they are busy fighting with each other. I could not fandom why it is not pleading for PR as it will be beneficial to them in the coming election.

It is here that restoration of normalcy is a must. This can only be brought by imposing PR. That is why I say : Now President's Rule is the only option left. PM Modi and Amit Shah should step in and impose the same. Rajnath's threatening discussion to Ibobi that he can use other constitutional means should be put into practice immediately.

Surprising that State BJP is not pressing hard for the same to Delhi . Once PR is imposed, UNC is bound to call off the bandh and normalcy will return automatically. We will be free from the blame game by political parties and people will exercise their franchise peacefully and to the most extent.

Meanwhile, our hill and valley brethren should remain calm, should not believe in rumor-mongers and should not believe in mischief-makers. We should always remember that we belong to the same fore-fathers and to the same origin. This is proved by our long history, traditions and folk-tells.