Pulling at the idea of Manipur : Lim, ATC demands
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: June 29 2018 -

Will it impact on the coalition Government led by the BJP in Imphal or will it just blow over ?

How about the stand of the numerous civil society organisations which have stood by the territorial integrity of Manipur ?

What about the Congress ?

Will it see this as the right moment to come out guns blazing against the BJP led coalition Government ?

All questions, but relevant in the backdrop of the recent call of the NPF in Nagaland for Naga integration.

NPF reiterating the Naga integration call may be also be seen in the context of the recent statement of Nagaland Chief Minister Nephiu Rio on the Naga integration issue.

This is the political scenario at Nagaland and if this is the case, then it is interesting to note two political parties slugging it out on the Naga integration question and it remains to be seen how well such a posture will go down with the numerous Naga civil society organisations not only in Nagaland but also in Manipur.

It will also be interesting to ask the stand of the State BJP, for remember the NPF is still very much a part of the coalition Government headed by the BJP.

Not saying that this development will impact on the coalition but still it would be interesting to see how things develop for here is a case of two political parties supping, but with divergent stand on the Naga integration issue.

And this is a point which will not be missed on the Congress.

Interesting it will be to see how the Congress intends to make the situation uncomfortable for the BJP led coalition.

How about the civil society organisations in Manipur ?

Will they also raise their pitch for remember a number of civil society organisations have been at the forefront stressing on the need to protect the existence of Manipur as a geo-political reality.

Even as the people of Manipur have made it clear that any attempt to bifurcate the territories of Manipur will be opposed tooth and nail vis-a-vis the demand for a Greater Lim, comes the news of a good number of Churachandpur CSOs raising the demand for an Autonomous Territorial Council to the SoO Interlocutor.

More than enough evidence that there are forces which will continue to question the existence of Manipur as a geo-political reality.

Not yet clear how the demand of the Churachandpur CSOs will go down with the State Government and the people of Manipur but it is an indication of the centrifugal forces at work.

No point in asking how situation has come to such a pass, but time for all to acknowledge that not every section of society identify with Manipur and many want some sort of an autonomy even though they may continue to stay in Manipur.

Not a pretty situation by any stretch of the imagination.

How the State respond to the different pull forces at play here remains to be seen but the new developments have the potential to snowball into something bigger and this is something Manipur can do without.

This is where the BJP led coalition Government need to come to the point that they need to deal with the various issues with political acumen and far sightedness.

Knee jerk reaction is certainly not needed.

For the people too time for all to see how Manipur can be more acceptable to different sections of the people.