Ulterior Motives - the Cause of Pangs

Avince Dilbung *

Protest Rally against creation of Sadar Hills District at Noney on Aug 26 2011 :: Pix - Jimmy Leivon

I sit far away from my own State of Manipur and mourn over what has befallen her today. I find no wisdom but selfishness and hidden agendas dominating the whole scenario. The continuous blockade is too long for a cause that divides instead of uniting and betrays instead of contribution, a fist against brother to a brother.

Meiteis put a long antagonising face before the Nagas, the Kukis nurture antimony towards the Nagas and the Nagas display varied colours.

There is nothing wrong to create more and more districts for better administration. Kukis have their right to demand a separate district for themselves. The Thoubal district, Bisnupur district, Imphal West, and Imphal East are exclusively for Meiteis.

Jeribam can soon have autonomous district status. This again will be exclusively for Meitei community. Tangkhuls have Ukhrul district. Rongmeis have Tamenglong district. Can the Kukis not demand one district exclusively for themselves?

The Thoubal district runs along the foot hills right up to Serou. The hills are owned by the tribals. If this could be done, can Sadar Hills not run the same making convenient cut? What matters here is inconvenience for a Kuki village at one corner to come all the way to the head quarter located elsewhere along NH 39.

Sub division can supplement. This does not mean that the line of Sadar hills runs along to Chandel district. The Kuki occupied area under Chandel district is large enough for another separate district status. Kukis can come up. They need to and have to.

The Nagas of Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul do not want to be under Sadar Hills. Bifurcation of their own community is not desirable. They seem to be saying ‘Let the Sadar Hills be for Kukis and for development of Kukis’. In fact this is true. Therefore, the Kukis need not display hatred towards their Naga brethren.

They have to look at and treat the Nagas positively. The Nagas of Senapati, Tameng-long and Ukhrul wish good for their own community as much as the reason for the creation of autonomous district exclusively for Kukis.

The fault is with the Manipur Government. The State Cabinet Ministers and the committee set for the study and demarcation of Sadar Hills district territory did not take into consideration the communities who will be directly and indirectly affected. The communitarian composition of the three district territories was not taken into consideration.

Taking few autonomous district council members into task is not enough because they were not elected by their people. They do not truly represent the democratic people of their constituencies as per the De-mocratic principles. They were head picked by the Chief Minister of Manipur. This autocratic decision is what I call the ulterior motive.

This ulterior motive was indifferent to the demands made. This culminated into continuously road blockade. The Government of Manipur is not only the Government of Meiteis but of tribals too. Therefore, the Government and the adhoc community formed for the study of Sadar Hills district should listen to the plea/demand.

The Government should not take advantage of this demand to make the Central Government open her treasures. This is selling away the birth-right. This is what is being done now.

This is politics. But this politics has brought untold miseries upon the people of Manipur in general.

This is violation of Human Rights. Over this pang I mourn over.