Militants slap, Maoist slaps, Govt claps?
- Sending threat to the non-manipuris to leave the state is certainly not the solution -

By Babina Wahengbam *

I'm a true meitei in heart and soul but I cannot agree with our fellow brethrens in chasing away the non-locals from our state or sending them the threat to leave the land by terming them as "illegal immigrants" just because we don't like to be part of India. I don't mean or intend to overlook our history but the present scenario demands a more practical and attainable solution.

If the militants were outside Manipur fighting against all odds for a decent space in this mad world, they would have understood how tough it is for us to pursue higher studies or make a living. Staying far away from our beloved home and working day and night is not easy. Yet, we have managed to find a space for a living just like the non-locals do in Manipur. Imagine what will happen to us who are living outside the state if we are told to pack up our bags and leave behind our jobs and studies. Any threat against the non-locals in Manipur can put the lives of other manipuris living outside the state under similar threat.

The most likely consequence could be the major political controversy with the CPI (Maoist). According to the news report published in Hindustan Times dated April 21, 2010, the Bihar Maoists' plan to come out with a counter ultimatum in support of the Bihari and Jharkhand labourers. The report further stated that CPI (Maoist) would also issue an ultimatum to the students of Manipur enrolled in different educational institutes in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to leave these places by June 30. Even the people working in other organizations in the four states would not be spared. And the end result would be both the militants and the Maoist, being the Centre's pain in the neck, will make the show more pleasurable for the Govt of India. This has to be kept in mind before taking up any further steps.

And what were our state leaders doing when the ultimatum was sent to the migrant workers? Were they waiting for the Maoist counter ultimatum? It is really disappointing to see our Chief Minister is least concerned about manipuris living outside the state by saying that our safety and protection is not under his jurisdiction. If Mr Ibobi had made it clear that the threat to migrant workers is unacceptable and illogical, such question regarding our protection would not have come up. The government watching silently all this time proves its inefficiency in ruling the state and providing security of his own people and non-locals under his umbrella.

Have our fellow brethrens ever thought what the common people want? No. Unfortunately, they raise their own voice and not the voice of the people. The militants should not forget that they are not the legal body of the sate and they cannot anytime impose or issue any barbaric statement or rule in the name of the people's welfare. If they think that guns can rule us then there are hundreds of lives who stand in between the guns of freedom and bullets of democracy. But eventually, it's our own blood that will be shed.

The militants must also understand that it's neither possible to make the non-manipuris leave the place nor sending them away by force is the right solution. Rather it would create chaos in the state not only economically but politically too. All of us know that our economy is so fragile and depends on India for survival. We have seen this many times whenever there are blockades in national highways.

Even for a pinch of salt, we need to import from other states. Currently we are facing shortage of essential commodities and transport fuel supply because of the week-long blockades along the Imphal-Dimapur and Imphal-Jiribam national highways, the two lifelines of the state. Prices of vital items are rising much higher than the normal rates across the state. In such a situation, do not be under the illusion that we can meet both ends by cutting ourselves from the rest.

Today, you feel insecure because the non-locals started to control the commercial market but have you ever questioned yourself why they can make money in the heart of Imphal market while our own people continue to depend on them. Instead of sending them threat, why don't you ban all Indian goods, stop buying Indian products, stop eating Indian foodstuffs, stop wearing Indian cloths and stop chasing Indian money?

If you do so, no mayangs will ever dare to survive in Manipur but this you cannot do because the state will not be able to survive in its own. Then how do you think it can subsist by stopping the traders from entering Manipur? So why don't we work a little harder and replace the mayang rag-picker by a meitei rag-picker, a mayang trader by a meitei trader.

The militants have banned hindi films in protest against the illegal domination by India. They even went to the extent of burning hindi books but was it successful? No. Today you can see Imphal market flooded with pirated hindi movies. The successful launch of Tata Sky and Dish TV via satellite channels which offers hundreds of hindi channels is unstoppable. On the one hand, they banned wearing skirts in schools adding unnecessary nuisance to the students but on the other hand the market is swamped with Indian and western dresses. Where has all the spirit of preserving our tradition gone? Was it limited to school uniforms only?

Not a single major industry, much less an important establishment has ever been established in Manipur partly because of the colonial regime and political and military subjugation of the people and partly because of the illegal taxation imposed by several insurgent groups. So much of talking has been happening about threats posing to the local people of Manipur by the unchecked increasing influx of non-locals but what about the insiders who are also equally responsible for it.

If they cannot work as hard as their counterparts, at least learn something constructive from the Maoist. Founded on 21 September, 2004 with the aim to overthrow the government of India, the Maoist has been fighting for the rights of the tribals in the forest belt in and around central India. Their principle source of funding has been abduction, extortions, looting and poppy cultivation but they serve its own people by building roads and running schools. It is unfortunate that our brethrens only know how to extort money from the poor people, not even sparing the small retailers like the pan-dukans. The worst scenario is they have grade politics above education.

Revolting against the Indian army and its excessive usage of special powers under the Armed Forces Special Power Act is justified to the extent that it's taking undue advantage over the common people. But chasing away the non-locals, who are like us earning a living, will not serve any purpose. It will rather deteriorate the economic condition of the state and only the common people will pay the price for such irrational act.

The heavy influx of non-locals is quite alarming and certainly needs to be checked by all means. At least we should not let outsiders buy or own property except for industrial purposes that can provide employment to the local people. This can solve half the problem as the demand would be quite reasonable. For example, outsiders are not allowed to buy land in some states of India because of various political and historical reasons.

In Sikkim, outsiders cannot buy land, except to set up industrial units. Only Sikkimese residents can buy land there. Article 371F of the Constitution of India, which grants special provisions to Sikkim, prohibits sale and purchase of land or property involving outsiders. In addition to this, only tribals can purchase land and property in the tribal areas of the state, for instance, the north district of Sikkim.

In Arunachal Pradesh too, sale of land or property to outsiders (non-tribals) is prohibited. Arunachal falls under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and in all such areas; non-tribals cannot purchase land or property.

Fighting for self-determination is a greater cause and needs more realistic measures that are achievable. But before that we need to clean the mess among ourselves if we want to meet our goals. So we must first change our outlook and initiate steps to take up firm actions to bring industrial growth in the state.