7 days since the Delhi do of Oct 15 : Interesting in betweens
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: October 23, 2024 -

This was the first time that the 60 MLAs of Manipur were grouped into Meiteis, Kukis and Nagas and while this would have served the purpose of holding a talk between Meitei MLAs and Kuki MLAs with the Naga MLAs probably thrown in to give it a more rounded appearance, it is disappointing to see that the Meitei MLAs have had nothing to say after the October 15 meeting at New Delhi.

The slip given to the waiting reporters at the Airport by a prominent Meitei Minister who also doubles up as the spokesperson of the BJP led Government summed up the ‘determination’ of the Meitei MLAs not to open their mouth on what exactly happened on October 15 during the meeting with the Kuki MLAs in the presence of BJP leader Sambit Patra and some other officials hand picked by the Union Home Ministry.

Exactly one week down the line and no one knows what exactly transpired during the meeting or the points shared between the Meitei and Kuki MLAs, but one point that stood out prominently was the statement issued by the Kuki MLAs after the meeting that no talk of reconciliation is possible without addressing the demand for a Separate Administration for the Kuki-Zo people.

Another point that emerged clearly is the fact that prior to the meeting with the Meitei and Naga MLAs, the Kuki MLAs were closeted with Sambit Patra and other officials for some time.

But what is not clear is what exactly transpired during the meeting with the Meitei MLAs. What were the points discussed ?

Other than the input that more such meetings will follow in the days to come, no other input has been received and though the attention of the people and the Imphal based media ought to have been on the October 15 Delhi do, came the news that at least 20 MLAs had submitted a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister to intervene and bring about a political resolution.

And even as The Sangai Express stuck to this report, a purported copy of the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister went viral on the social media, wherein the removal of Chief Minister N Biren was clearly stated on the ground that he is also part of the problem.

Suddenly the focus of the people and the media shifted from the October 15 meeting to the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister.

In between came the news carried by a local TV channel that the Chief Minister had submitted his resignation to the Prime Minister which was promptly withdrawn.

So in the last 7 days or so the focus of the people and the media has been made to jump from the October 15 Delhi meeting, to the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister to the fake news of the Chief Minister submitting his resignation papers to the Prime Minister.

In short a situation of utter confusion and chaos became the order in the last 7 days and even while Manipur and her people were slowly coming to grip with the fast changing narratives that held centre stage, came the news of the Chief Minister meeting different political figures in New Delhi.

Can one read a design or connect the dots between the October 15 meeting (understand it primarily as the meeting held separately between the Kuki MLAs and the team picked by the Union Home Ministry and the failure of the Meitei MLAs to clearly spell out what exactly transpired on the said day) and the confusion created by the two different versions associated with the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister ?

Throw in the false story of the Chief Minister giving in his paper and here is a perfect case of confusion reigning over all and in the process make the people forget about what exactly happened on October 15.

For that matter it is not only the October 15 meeting that people are confused about, but nothing is clear ever since Manipur went up in flames in the evening of May 3, 2023.

No one knows whether Article 355 is in force in Manipur or not and it was only recently that it became clear that the Chief Minister is no longer in charge of the Unified Command.

In such a case questions are bound to be asked on whether the DGP is to report to the Chief Minister or the Security Advisor who is in charge of the Unified Command.

It is under this state of confusion and uncertainty that Manipur has been surviving from day to day since the evening of May 3, 2023 and opaqueness continues with the October 15 New Delhi meeting capping it off with the uncertainty stretching to till now that is till October 22.