Inner Line Permit and our representatives

R.K. Shivachandra *

Sit-in-protest in various part of Manipur demanding implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) on 10 July 2012 :: Pix - Danial Chabungbam

Issue of the inner line permit is hanging in the sky for quiet some time now with nobody in the Government to hear it. Sometimes it is obvious that any trifle matter relating to Manipur is mandatorily to be discussed on the table of Delhi, strictly in Delhi only, if not all the hues and cries hollowed into wilderness. Delhi is inseparable; it has become a hard and fast rule needed to be implied to this placid eastern frontier .

Our MLAs embarrasses this 'Delhi concept' as an unwritten oath, to be hummed as the sacred mantras to their lips so as to stay long in the power echelon. It is not only unfortunate but literally we are sacrificial lambs marching to the land of melting pot. Why cannot we take our own decision for a Manipur of our own? This is our mandate and our voice should go to Delhi and not necessarily to wait for Delhi to speak.

MLAs are throwing up hands and dozing off in a big mosque like hall waiting for the call of the masters in Delhi. Would the MLAs be tagged 'anti socials' by taking a decision in the Assembly of protecting their own land from the outsiders? Is it unconstitutional to protect my people and my land? But we need to go to Delhi at the fall of a hat. It is ridiculous.

When Mr. Haokheshe Sema, the then Chief Minister was refused a bigger budget of Nagaland by the Central Government, he intelligently explained, "We the Nagas enjoyed the status of sovereign country once, living happily in abundance in our own way of life before Indian annexed Nagaland by giving a dream of modern life. India is duty bound to look into every shortfall of Nagas and needs to be pumped in as much funds as we want to meet the modern ways of life". An understanding prime Minister immediately said "Ok Ok alright".

Inner line permit is practiced all over North Eastern States and the act should have been in practice long time ago. Our civil societies had embarked upon the agitation long time back as early as 80s,90s and the issue had been later championed by FRIENDS but the MLAs in the house seemed to be rather busy in some other business known best to themselves.

Sometimes we need to see an MLA with a spine on his back, who can lead the issue at least for the future generation of Manipur. It is a nightmare to think how it would be like without implementing this act in the already exploited Manipur. It is unimaginable. We have been pushed back to the death end of the wall.

The SB and other agencies in Manipur who happen to be ears and eyes to Delhi may also crater and fathom the magma of the present situation that within no time public uprising could take the streets, metamorphosed into a big public unrest and chaos.

Please take a little trouble to pass this piece of information to the PMO that Manipuris are peace loving souls, who love to lead a life of a responsible citizen abiding by the holy scripture of the Indian Constitution. But we should not be tutored that violence is only the language to achieve our goal, our rights in the Indian theatre of the philosophy of peace and democracy.

The government knows only one language called 'violence' otherwise Sharmila should not have gone this 12 years long fasting. Would not this tantamount to insulting the DEMOCRACY of India and defying the concept of Mahatma. The reign of anarchy ruled Manipur whipped by the lashes of democracy and people made scapegoat to pick up violence only to re-claim the right which was already theirs and a new lesson had deeply rooted in their brain that in independent India VIOLENCE had become a part of civic expression…a gentleman approach. We should not let this happen.

People of Manipur should also learn to lick the bitter curd of truth and digesting the factual fact, tend to remember the moment they have voted to elect their representatives. Today we are suffering because we practice our franchise on taking and giving votes basis. Little did we digest who is the best?

The concept of election circles around some wealthy hefty lots who see nothing beyond their personal power and financial prosperity. A corrupt politician takes MONEY from the rich, VOTES from the poor, promising to protect one from the other. 'He has political acumen' somebody praised him.

Election in the modern era is everybody's business and it is no longer a festival of money. Don't say it is nasty but we are part of it invariably. We should not sell our dignity for mere personal momentary gain. Political book defined two characters on 'traitor' one as active traitor another as passive traitor. Active traitors sell their motherland in the marketplace for personal gain and passive traitors watch their motherland being sold and remain silent. As a true son of the soil I never wish to belong neither of the category. I want to ask everybody who worth salt to their Motherland which category you belong to.

Anecdote:

A busload of politicians fell off a road deep into a farmer's fields. Seeing this, the farmer rushed to the spot and started to dig a hall and bury the politicians. Next day, the police came to investigate. They asked the farmer, "You buried them all. But were they all dead?"The farmer replied, "Some of them said they weren't. But you know how politician lie."

'Freedom is not free'.