Task cut out for PR regime, centre
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: May 06, 2025 -

THOUGH it is only three months since Manipur came under the President's Rule after months of violence and failure by the N Biren government to restore normalcy, it is now clear that the new PR regime and the Union government would be under intense scrutiny and pressure from various quarters to effectively address multiple problems plaguing the strife-torn state.

Apart from the Kuki-Meetei discord, hogging the limelight for over two years, one can't deny that issues ranging from objection to the border fencing project to the demands for rollback of the decision to create new districts, implementation of the National Register of Citizens, proper resettlement of the internally displaced persons, reinstatement of a popular government and divergent views on conduct of the delimitation exercise, to name a few, are certain to give sleepless nights to those entrusted to handle the state's affairs.

While imposition of the President's Rule resulted in total absence of gunfights between the two communities in conflict, providing great relief to the commoners who had been the hardest hit section of the society, the clamour for reinstatement of a popular government has the potential to derail initiatives for addressing the unrest situation and give headache to the present establishment in case the astute political elites succeed in galvanising public support to their cause.

Considering the current political scenario, there is remote chance of the centre yielding to the pressure tactics and demand for withdrawal of the President's Rule.

However, failure to resolve the crisis at the soonest possible might trigger mass uprising for there are clear signs of restlessness among the general population in general as well as the civil society and political organisations in particular.

Moreover, the PR regime and the central government cannot ignore the voices of dissent being raised against the centre's decision to scrap the free movement regime and commencement of the construction of fencing along the Indo-Myanmar boundary as the said policies are being fiercely objected to by both Naga and Kuki civil bodies, notwithstanding explanations by government authorities that they are aimed at regulating cross-border movement.

Notably, the demand for an update on the National Register of Citizens is yet to spark outright rejection even if the centre is yet to accord importance to public sentiment. Another issue that could lead to social discord is the centre's move for conduct of the delimitation exercise as directed by the Supreme Court.

The delimitation exercise is being opposed by Meetei civil organisations on the ground that it should be preceded by a proper head count rather than basing the exercise on flaw-filled past census figures, whereas Kuki and Naga bodies are pinning hope on the said exercise for increasing their representation in the state assembly.

Another issue likely to create tense situation in the state is the yearning of thousands of internally displaced persons, who are languishing in various relief camps and prefabricated housing colonies, for safe return to their original villages, especially after the semblance of peace in the post-PR period in the state.

As the prevailing issues and problems cannot be brushed aside, it could be safely stated that the central government shall have to tread cautiously, chalk up strategies and implement policies in a fair and transparent manner.