Why only blockade?
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: Ocotber 22, 2014 -

Firstly, it is a courteous act on the part of All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) to suspend its indefinite economic blockade along the national highways of the State in view of the upcoming Diwali and Ningol Chakkouba festivals.

The ATSUM has long been demanding the State Government for various development works in the hill areas. Their demands are just and the movement ought to be supported by all.

However, the idea of economic blockade as a form of agitation seems somewhat undemocratic, and so the leaders of ATSUM need to look for some other democratic means to place their rightful demands to the Government.

In Manipur, bandhs and blockades have become calendar events. Nothing needs to be elaborated on the problems and losses caused by such undemocratic agitations.

Everyone in the State has seen the worst of the worst scenarios during blockades. But, there are certain intriguing things about blockades which one needs to ponder.

A retrospection of the past blockades would shed some light to such intrigues.

The State has long experience for economic blockades, even for more than 100 days in a year in the recent past as an outcome of the so-called people’s agitation of some organizations for some demands.

But, were those demands fulfilled? What were their gains from such agitations?

It is very clear- nothing, just losses and more losses even with death and casualty of some drivers and handymen.

Also, the common people suffered while the blackmarketeers prospered. In fact, there is nothing logical about carrying out such agitation.

Neither the supporters nor common people would appreciate them. Manipur, being a landlocked state, can be threatened by anybody living along its lifelines.

Blockade has been overused by several organizations as means to pressurize the Government towards fulfilling their demands.

The outcomes of such agitations are often undesirable resulting in public ire against the blockade imposers.

Some people have raised doubts if those blockades were called to serve some hidden agendas of some people (may be traders) rather than getting their demands fulfilled.

All past blockades were called off midway without any breakthrough in fulfilling their demands.

Overindulgence in such illogical agitations by some organizations makes the ‘doubts’ more open to the public. The common people are only the victims and sufferers.

After all, this world runs on the principle of “survival of the fittest”.

The capable ones might be instigating something to somebody so that the annual schedule for economic blockade is not disturbed and more cash flows into their safes through extraordinary price rise of essential commodities.

On the other hand, the most disturbing part of this blockade saga is the “unforgettable” long queues in front of oil pumps.

The people of the State have become almost “blockade-phobic” that they have started to line up their vehicles in front of oil pumps even before commencement of the blockade.

Foods are not a matter of concern to them, they value petrol above everything. The youths consider it fashionable to spend a night on the roadside and bear the sun and rain just to get few litres of petrol.

There could be real scarcity of petroleum oil if the blockade persists for a longer period, but scarcity before the commencement of blockade is something very intriguing.

The Government is totally silent over such critical issue.

The officials would bring out a report claiming so much crores of rupees have been lost during bandhs and blockades, but the Government is never serious in bringing out legislation to criminalize those people imposing bandhs and blockades.

The problems of some people or group cannot become the problem of all people.

A democratic way has to be adopted to press the Government to look after the demands and grievances of the people.

Otherwise, some vested interests would misguide and create ruckus in the society.