Thank God, the Bill did not survive!!
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: October 04, 2013 -

How bandh, blockade and general strike affect the people belonging to different sections of the society is well-known even to those who are calling, sponsoring or supporting such agitations in Manipur.

That is the reason why Manipur has earned the sobriquet of 'Bandh-pur' or 'Blockade-pur', though, not in an encouraging manner or way. Nonetheless, there has been no end to calling of bandh, blockade or general strike in Manipur at the drop of a hat by every sundry organisation to press a demand or two of their own but in the name of 'public interest'.

The negative impact of frequent imposition of calling bandh, blockade or general strike on the people in this economically poor but political charged State reached to such a level of intolerance that a Committee of the Manipur Legislative Assembly had even proposed passing of the Manipur Bandh, Blockade and Economic Blockade (Prevention) Bill, 2011.

Taking cognisance of the fact that Supreme Court of India had ruled calling of bandh/blockade as "illegal and unconstitutional", the Bill proposed to punish sponsors of bandhs and blockades to a period of uptoto one to three years' jail term with a fine ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 1 lakh and set aside one of the session courts as the special trial court for speedy trial of the bandh/blockade offenders.

But, no one knows what has happened to that Bill that says, "Members of all organisations, including political parties, are liable to be prosecuted for criminal offences and they are also liable for all the damages caused out of such bandhs, blockades and economic blockades."

And, as a result, there has been no abatement in calling or announcement of bandh, road blockade and economic blockade in Manipur, and the impact of such agitations on the life of the people, public and individual property and the state economy at large, continues to remain a serious concern.

We must have written against this prevailing culture of calling bandh and blockade for an umpteen number of times through this very same column and also questioned, why everyone in Manipur thinks it is their birth right to call/impose bandh/blockade to redress their grievances.

Yes, we are against this culture of calling bandh/blockade without any valid reasons, and would continue do so.

But we feel that the two bandhs or blockades that are coming up need to be understood justly and impartially. While the Zeliangrong frontal organisations have announced a 24-hour total bandh in Tamenglong district with effect from October 3 midnight in protest against failure of resuming electricity supply after it went kaput on September 24 last, the Committee on Protection of Land in Border Fencing, Manipur (CDLBF) has called for a 12-hour state-wide bandh on October 7 decrying alleged lack of concern of the Government of Manipur over the Indo-Myanmar Border fencing row.

Would anybody be able to remain quiet if they were deprived of electricity supply for more than one month or their land be given away to another country simply like that?

Thank god, the 'Bill' did not see the light of day.