Separate admin demand unlikely to be granted: Rami Desai
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 10 2023:
The Centre and entire citizen of the country now understand the strategic importance of Manipur to the nation and accordingly the demand being made by a community for separate administration is unlikely to be granted, opined scholar Rami Niranjan Desai.
Writer, anthropologist and scholar Rami Desai was one of the panellists at the two-day National Youth Convention on the theme 'Democracy, dialogue and Co-existence in Manipur' organised by Manipur University Students' Union (MUSU) at the Court hall of the University.
Presenting her talk on the topic 'Way Ahead' during the technical session, Rami Desai observed that the way ahead for Manipur is not easy, quite challenging and filled with numerous difficulties in view of the prevailing situation.
Though unknown in the recent past, the Centre and citizens of the country now fully understand the strategic importance of Manipur to the nation particularly on security perspective and improving trade with other Asian countries.
Due to the ongoing violence, every citizen of the country now talks and discusses about Manipur and this can be considered as success for the state in one angle, she said.
In view of collective understanding among the citizens and Centre about the strategic importance of Manipur to the nation's security and trade link with other Asian countries, there is no hope of granting separate administration demand being made by a community of the state.
Breaking apart this strategically important state will not only be the beginning of distortion of Manipur but also for the country.
Breaking apart Manipur will also jeopardise nation's security and international trade through the state.
Nevertheless, the ongoing violence has to be resolved peacefully.
If is quite right that the state has huge responsibility to resolve the crisis but people should also discuss about individual's responsibility, stated Rami adding fake news helped in fuelling the crisis and escalating the violence.
According to the scholar specialised in the North East, anger among the people of both the warring communities need to be diminished first to bring a peaceful solution and this will also help in restoring confidence among the people.
She also said that carrying past incidents in the way forward for peace and development would be futile and it must begin from the present scenario.
Disarmament and peace talks are paramount in moving to this path but it is not an easy task, she said and stressed the need for identifying conflicting points between the two warring communities to start dialogues and bring back peace.
Another panellist professor Gambhir of Manipur University observed that reservation policy of the country creates huge difference between different communities and accordingly a specific time for scrapping this policy must be made.
On one side, reservation policy deprives job to meritorious and deserving youth while unfit youth hold big and key posts on the other side.
People coming from neighbouring countries and take advantage of this policy after becoming citizens of the country is increasing, he said and stressed the need for amending the policy at the earliest.
Social activist Ashang Kasar said that the present crisis in Manipur can only be resolved through dialogue and stressed on the need to create a platform for religious leaders to work out strategy for reaching out to the communities in conflict.
The main issue the state is facing is absence of committed individuals.
as the so-called contemporary public figures always rely on and follow directive of the Central leaders for everything.
It is not the time to rely on leaders from outside the state but resolve the issues within Manipur, he said.
Ashang also reminded all concerned that tribal people have been playing major role in safeguarding the territorial integrity of the Manipur.
Even though one" tribe wants to bifurcate the state, there are several others, who wants to uphold the territory.
There is a need to unite such communities and face the threat to the territory.
On the other hand, despite the claims of bringing development, there is no clear vision for the next one or two decades.
It is high time for likeminded communities to unite and choose the right leader by replacing incompetent ones.
Administration has totally failed in both hills and valley.
The government is doing nothing to protect the encroachment in Tungjoy, Jessami and Kasom though the villagers are still guarding their territory.
Neither the government nor the public understand the situation, and in such a scenario, communities who are defending the territory of the state selflessly need to unite, he said.
The social activist also stated that Meetei's demand for ST status is not the root cause of the present crisis.
Kshetrigao MLA Sheikh Noorul Hassan, who also attended the programme as panellist, said that one of the underlying causes of the current conflict is the way the government works as violent confrontation often becomes the only means to draw attention of the government.
Setting up population commission to check influx of illegal immigrants in every community should be the solution to prevent such ethnic conflict, he opined.
The MLA also stressed the need for united stand by politicians, academicians, CSOs, and senior citizens.
Retired IAS RK Nimai moderated the first technical session of the National Youth Convention.
Professors, faculty members and students of different departments of Manipur University as well as youth from different parts of the state attended the convention.
Later, an interaction programme between researcher Rami Niranjan Desai and students was held at the auditorium of the University at 3 pm.
Social activist Ashang Kasar said that the present crisis in Manipur can only be resolved through dialogue and stressed on the need to create a platform for religious leaders to work out strategy for reaching out to the communities in conflict.
The main issue the state is facing is absence of committed individuals, as the so-called contemporary public figures always rely on and follow directive of the Central leaders for everything.
It is not the time to rely on leaders from outside the state but resolve the issues within Manipur, he said.
Ashang also reminded all concerned that tribal people have been playing major role in safeguarding the territorial integrity of the Manipur.
Even though one tribe wants to bifurcate the state, there are several others, who wants to uphold the territory.
There is a need to unite such communitiesand face the threat to the territory.
On the other hand, despite the claims of bringing development, there is no clear vision for the next one or two decades.
It is high time for likeminded communities to unite and choose the right leader by replacing incompetent ones.
Administration has totally failed in both hills and valley.
The government is doing nothing to protect the encroachment in Tungjoy, Jessami and Kasom though the villagers are still guarding their territory.
Neither the government nor the public understand the situation, and in such a scenario, communities who are defending the territory of the state selflessly need to unite, he said.
The social activist also stated that Meetei's demand for ST status is not the root cause of the present crisis.
Kshetrigao MLA Sheikh Noorul Hassan, who also attended the programme as panellist, said that one of the underlying causes of the current conflict is the way the government works as violent confrontation often becomes the only means to draw attention of the government.
Setting up population commission to check influx of illegal immigrants in every community should be the solution to prevent such ethnic conflict, he opined.
The MLA also stressed the need for united stand by politicians, academicians, CSOs, and senior citizens.
Retired IAS RK Nimai moderated the first technical session of the National Youth Convention.
Professors, faculty members and students of different departments of Manipur University as well as youth from different parts of the state attended the convention.
Later, an interaction programme between researcher Rami Niranjan Desai and students was held at the auditorium of the University at 3 pm .
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