90 days to 30 days :: Reality check : Time to review the curfew
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: July 18 2015 -

From ninety days to thirty days.

Chief Minister O Ibobi seems to have come around to the reality that quite a large number of people, particularly the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System, are not amenable to the idea of ninety days or three months to come up with a new Bill.

This should not be taken to mean a climb down for the Chief Minister or the Government but is a positive indication that the Government is ready to listen to the voice of the people.

What however is a matter of concern is the report that the Manipur People’s Party and the State unit of the BJP were absent during the All Political Party meeting held on July 16 to discuss the next course of action to be taken up.

No doubt these two parties must have their own reasons for staying away, but it would help if some explanation is given to the people.

The matter here is about the land and her people and definitely this is not the time for political upmanship.

How the Government and the others, notably the academicians, law experts, political parties and interested parties go about drafting the new Bill remains to be seen, but to be sure it is not going to be a cake walk.

The State Government will have to ensure that the new Bill does not violate the Constitution of India and at the same time ensure that it does not disappoint or outrage the people, particularly the JCILPS.

Enough turmoil has been witnessed and perhaps the most unfortunate was the loss of life of Sapam Robinhood. Manipur certainly does not need to see a repeat of July 8, 2015.

A dicey position, it certainly is. All the more reason for the Government to reach out to whoever it can and draw ideas and suggestions.

The task is laid out but it is still not very clear how the Government should proceed.

With the JCILPS already giving a reprieve till July 19, it is only right that the Government too think over the curfew that has been imposed in Imphal areas from the evening of July 8.

True the district administrations of Imphal East and Imphal West have been daily issuing notifications announcing the number of hours of curfew relaxation, but this cannot be a permanent option.

To contain the situation is obviously the official line that the Government has maintained to justify the imposition of curfew in the two capital districts of Imphal but can it really say with conviction that curfew has helped in containing the situation ?

A look at the reality will tell a different story and this should underline the point of how serious the people are about some sort of a legal mechanism to check the inflow of non-local people.

Educational institutions too have remained closed for too long and it is only right that some thoughts are given to this.

This is all that more so for students who will be appearing for their Class X and Class XII board exams next year.

Each day counts and this should not be lost on anyone.