Who's Playing The Quest : Centre or States

H Mangcha Chongloi *

A map showing Sadar Hills :: Pix - TSE

This is not about a personal conception or view rather a state or public concerned. We all know the situation that took us in Manipur, the North-Eastern State of India. With due fluctuation on the Sadar Hills issue, the temper once more rose to a high state leading to one of the longest economic blockades ever-done (92 days) on the highways. Since then the problem in Manipur escalated or manipulated further.

The time-long blockade came to an end only after the State Government inked a bond with the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) on 31st October, 2011 at Chief Minister's Secretariat, Imphal. Meanwhile the counter economic blockade ran by the United Naga Council (UNC) since 21st August, 2011 has crossed days of a century. So the thirst of Manipur threatened by the blockades were mostly accomplice or still far beyond?

Clear-sightedly, the blockade imposed by the UNC which proclaimed the counter blockade imposed over the SHDDC's Eco-blockade. But until then the SHDDC has nothing to do with the blockades because the SHDDC has ended up its blockade or bandh: the moment the bond for establishment of Sadar Hills District was made with the Government of Manipur.

At present, the SHDDC's blockade has gone. So far it can be stated that the blockade imposed by the UNC is for an Alternative Arrangement for the Nagas of Manipur or the proposed Supra-State Body as mentioned in some of the trusted local daily Newspapers though claimed 'false & mischievous' by the Home Ministry.

The UNC lifted its blockaded only after a schedule visit of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh & UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Dec. 3rd where their hope of the INDO-NAGA issue be brought out. Meanwhile, the clarification is to be made by the Ministry (GoI) over it whatever the case is as soon as possible is a must for all.

While deliberating the issue of the proposed Supra-State body (as a concerned citizen from the North-Eastern India) is likely to cause a terrible ethnic cleansing or chaos over a long period is as his/her mind clear-cut.

The proposed State would 'scored goal' only after a political concensus from the concerned-States, that is Mani-pur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. As being proposed, it doesn't matter whether the concensus agreed to it or not is not our discerned but what the Concensus gave. Moreover, the agreement from the core of present Nagaland Ministry or Administration is also a must, otherwise, it may erupt the dichotomy of the State Government versus the Supra-State body which is the Collision of the Authority.

Coming back to the Sadar Hills issue, the majority of the people were the 'Kukis', besides living in Cohesion with the Nepalis, Meiteis, Nagas etc. This issue is not a yesterday/year issue but a long running disturbance of failure. No matter what, probably, the failures should go to the State Government and its associate without further explanation.

It had an un-retrievable amount of money or properties lost in this regard. The most important thing over the issue is the loss of lives. The wondrous thing that happens here is that despite all of these incidents, sacrifices or loss of properties worth uncountable, the State Government still remains a silent spectacle beside being ensured by the Central body too.

Truly speaking, the Sadar Hills issue is a minor case for the Kukis to upgrade its status. Like others, the Kukis too had population, history, revolutions, Jurisdictions etc. It's clear that Sadar Hills is not a controversial issue. It is so because the Sadar Hills has got its Autonomous boundaries in the Government record and even conducted the Sadar Hills District Council Election.

The three Sub-Divisions have been bifurcated into 6 Sub-Division (namely—Champhai, T. Vaichong, Saikul, Island, Saitu-Gamphazol and Kangchup Geljang) for better development which has been deprived from development of fast initiation unlike other District for 40 years long. The creation for Sadar Hills doesn't intrude or annex any other District rather it is her own District which is the up gradation of her status formally by the governing body.

I'm not against the Supra-State body but one thing that pinches me is that if the Pan-Naga State arrangement be made, it would be unfair for the different tribes of The Kukis living in the different States of the North-Eastern India.

If I'm not wrong, as visual from the media itself by all the different tribes of Kukis living in Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, etc are facing a threat of Quit Notice or even mass massacre of ethnic clash due to the land dispute or annexation by the others.

As a result, if the Cultural, Social and Customary unification be discussed as a deal the ethnic minorities, formulates and implements the policies directly as a Unitary State like the United Kingdom (UK) would also be a must for protection and ethnic cleansing as visual by all for the Kukis too.

Atleast the Sadar Hills issue of Manipur be solved and upgraded to a full-fledged District is a past history which need a present action.

Thus, I hope the authority is coping with the problem as positive and solving the past problem lingering to the present day would be a great achievement for the Government as well as the public of the Sadar Hills. Let all the problems be solved without any further delay!