The naked protest by the 12 ladies in front of the 17th Assam Rifles have completely undressed the Indian Government which brought Manipur into the international politics. The stern and rigid stand of the Indian Government to deal severely those who raised their head against Indianisation and suppression of the NE region especially from Manipur was shaken to its root when the International Amnesty advised the Indian government either to review AFSPA or withdraw the act from the region.

The wrath of the Developed countries was felt when the US government withdrew the huge fund from the Indian stock market meant for the development of the Northeast India giving shuddering shiver dept into the spine of the Indian Parliament. The inflation rate went sky high touching a one time 8% on a single day. It was a clear warning from the US government who has already shown its concern by stating that the US is monitoring the Northeast India. Should India still ignore our demands?

Finally, with the death of Miss Memita and Pebam Chittaranjan the centre has no other option but to unwillingly make a dictated visit of the agitation torn state capital Imphal. Which otherwise even the Prime Minister of India is afraid to make a visit, imagining the resultant unfathomable fear of the forceful colonization and suppression of the State over the pass 55 years. The center is visiting the state capital on the 5th of September 2004, by the person of Honorable Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and has announced a huge economic package to chill down the ongoing agitation in the state.

The entire state capital was humming and everyone was hastening making preparations for receiving and welcoming the Union Home Ministry with all the good hopes and aspirations for a peaceful and harmonious future environment that all could possibly imagined. Then all of a sudden all plans and hopes went pop off when the govt announced that Shri. Shivraj Patil is coming by MI-17 Helicopter and is directly landing at Kangla helipad at 9.15 am. Probably taking pretty well precautionary measures and taking care of his EMPTY VESSEL ECONOMIC PACKAGE, assuming that we are alienated Indians. Had Mahatma Gandhi still survive he would surely have said, "It is the last thing that a real Indian leader should do".

Fortunately or unfortunately the tied program schedule of the Union Home Minister has revealed that the announced economic package is nothing but an illusion. The only package we can see in it is to raise another Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) under the Union Government Scheme, whose proposal for its implementation is rolling for the last two years or so. And the center calls it 'Carrying an olive branch to Manipur'. It is not surprising that the joint body of the 32 organizations has called a 12 hours bandh from 5.00 am of September 5, 2004. This is all the government of India can give us for calling ourselves Indians.

"Mr. Patil's fresh economic package, aimed mainly at wooing the region's vast youth population, most of whom are unemployed despite having good education is just to give us a sepoy's job to kill among ourselves. THE GOVT OF INDIA THINKS THAT THE ONLY BEFITTING JOB FOR THE MANIPURIS IS A SEPOY'S JOB, forget about the infrastructure development".

On the other hand everyone was hoping that the Central Government will definitely pay special attention with a very special economic package so as to bring down this 'Gap of Alienation' which has been created after the forceful merger of Manipur into the Indian Union. But everything went off with the pop of a balloon. May be the Government of India has taken for granted that Manipur is its colony by virtue of its independence from the British Empire, which will safeguard its border for all time to come?

When the CPI(M) visiting leader namely MP Chandrakala Pate can move from place to place, meet people, study the ground reality, and understand the anguish and the expectations of the people. Why not Mr Shivraj Patil or any Union Ministry do the same? Are we Manipuris Cannibals or Ferocious Barbaric people? What are their assumptions?

It will not be wrong to highlight the following facts to prove that India and it's leaders are alienating the Manipuris right from the forceful merger until date.

1. His Highness Bodhachandra Singh, the Majaraja of Manipur was forced to signed 'The Manipur Merger Agreement of 1949' at gun point at Shillong under strict instruction of Shri. Sardar Patel the then Home Minister of the government of the newly independent India.
   
   

2. Our first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1953 landed in Imphal to discuss the Kabaw Valley (previously part of Manipur but leased to Burma as per Kabaw Valley Compensation Agreement of 1834) and gave away Kabaw Valley to Burma (now Myanmar) without the consent of the people of Manipur.
   
   

3. 'CHOOM NUMBA' was enforced to Manipur from the early period of the merger of Manipur till the early 70s right from Mr Nehru's period to Mrs Indira Ghandi's period. Under it the government collected all surplus agricultural produce at a nominal rate from all the families/farmers forcibly.
   
   

4. Restricted Area Permit (RAP) Act: With the imposition of this act no foreigner can enter Manipur except under special permission from the govt of India thus killing the tourisism potential and the income from it. With it no foreign investments are possible. It is estimated that more than Rs.3000-5000 crores on tourisism based incomes are going waste every year.
   
   

5. Armed Forces Special Powers' Act 1958: Implemented for the first time in Manipur in 1970 in the Tamenglong district and the whole of Manipur from 1980 without any sort of review and benefit from it.
   
   

6. Govt of India's extension of the NSCN (IM) Ceasefire into the territory of Manipur.
   
   

7. Deployment of Assam Rifles instead of BSF or the like: The idea was that the Assam Rifles would blend with the North East's distinct background, will not stand out and can keep the separatist forces down. Did it work? Then what was the underlying idea?
   
   

8. Was not it surprising that no senior member of the Government visited the state when it became apparent that public anger was spreading like wild fire? It was left to the Chief Minister Mr Ibobi to handle this NATIONAL SECURITY situation? Why?
   
   

9. Detention of those non-violent and democratic demonstrators under National security Act (NSA) just for seeking the removable of AFSPA.
   
   

10. Who brought those Indian flags and video cameras at Moiranghanuba? Call out the women folks, got the Indian flags burnt and took the videos clippings by an outsider, when the local reporters where not even aware of it? And how come that the very video clippings was utilized for arresting the women? Is India terrorizing Manipur?
    
    

With all these in mind my greatest fear is, can Mr Patil's visit to Imphal bring an amicable solution? Will the already widen alienation gap broaden more? Will the anguish of the people of Manipur soothe and chill down? The digital divide, the haves and the have nots won't it increase?

What if he did not remove AFSPA, which the people are expecting from him as the representative of the Central Govt? Will the people of Manipur still have hope and faith in the central government? Will it worsen the centre state relation?

What if the people revolt? Will we all die just because of a few bunches of politicians' misconceptions and short sightedness? The faith of Manipur and its people lie with the outcome of Mr Patil's visit?

'The wait and watch policy of the govt of india' which reflexes the wait and watch idea on Mr Patil's visit by the Manipuris is not going to bear any fruit. Finally, the spear heading joint body of the 32 organisations have adopted the policy of "Justice delayed is justice denied"

We the people of Manipur simply wants peace and tranquility and if the Govt of India is not able to fulfill our wishes and aspirations then it will be far better to leave the decission to us, so that there is no insurgency and peace & tranquility returns.

I AM APPREHENSIVE ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD? The current center-state relation is going for its worse. It is very likely to spark off from 6th September 2004, again heading for another big upheaval. May peace be restored overnight and save this 'Little Polo Kingdom on Earth' from another bloodbath!