Omitting blockade: Clever play of words :: Politics of blockade
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: August 10, 2022 -

August 8, 2022. Nothing was clear and this was amply demonstrated in the headline given in the lead news story of The Sangai Express, 'Govt inks MoU with ATSUM, uncertainty grips blockade status.'

Move forward 24 hours or to August 9, 2022 and things are a little clearer though the student body has 'cleverly' desisted from using the word 'blockade' and has instead preferred to use the term, 'to seek a common way forward of the ongoing movement.'

Clearly avoiding the word 'blockade' but nevertheless qualifying their present stand with the words 'ongoing movement' which in a way indicates that the blockade is on or maybe on.

Clearly the blockade politics is getting more and more interesting and also intriguing.

What however stands out clearly is the flat rejection of the MoU signed between the State Government and the 'individuals involved in the agreement without consulting the executives of ATSUM and federating units.'

In the same vein the student body has gone ahead to announce the suspension of its vice president Vanlanlian Khaute, who till the other day was leading the student representatives in the absence of its president Paotinthang Lupheng, who till August 8 was in police custody.

Was Khaute the only signatory to the MoU signed with the Government?

ATSUM in its statement to the media on August 9 has not named anyone else but wouldn't there be other signatories in the MoU?

This is a question which only ATSUM can answer and obviously the Government too, which must have got a copy of the MoU.

It would be interesting to see if there were any other leaders from ATSUM, who could have appended their signature to the MoU.

A clear cut answer may not be forthcoming on this count and this is where one can see politics written in bold all over the blockade call given by ATSUM.

Or should the line of ATSUM 'ongoing movement' be understood without blockade?

Only time can answer this but as the Kangpokpi correspondent of The Sangai Express has reported on August 9, though not a word of the blockade being lifted has been said, goods laden trucks have started moving freely on the National Highway.

The politics being played out on the lifelines of Manipur is palpable and the interesting question is whether the Government understands this politics or not.

An indication that though it is ATSUM which is seemingly calling the shots in the 'politics of blockade' it may just end up being a case of the 'politics of blockade' dragging the student body into the murky sphere that one associates with the world of politics in the largest democracy in the world.

Not everything is okay with ATSUM, best exemplified by the decision to expel its vice president and it is this new development which will be watched with interests by Manipur.

Take note, some will be worried and concerned over the direction in which ATSUM will proceed while there will be others too who will nod knowingly with the line 'this serves them right' for economic blockade is not something which will be taken lightly by anyone.

Already prices of some commodities have jacked up.

In just less than a week of the blockade coming into force, panic buying has already gotten hold of the public, best seen at the numerous petrol pumps located in Imphal.

'Keep calm, there is enough stock of fuel' is a line which the Government will like to stick to and dub the long queues in front of the petrol depots as one of panic buying.

The Government may have a point here, but one just wishes that it takes the trouble of studying why panic buying should get a stranglehold on the people whenever the highways are cut off.

The suited, booted netas will not have reasons to come under strain during any blockade, but ask the common man who have had to face the trouble of their vehicle going low on petrol or diesel or when the LPG cylinder in the kitchen starts giving red flames and here one will find the answer to why people get panic stricken when the lifelines are cut off.