Points for Election Manifesto for the 2014 LS polls in Manipur ?
- Part 1 -

Dr Khomdon Singh Lisam *

Voters during an election at Chandel District in March 2012 :: Pix - Bullu Raj

The terms of the present Lok Sabha expires on 31st May, 2014. That means the Lok Sabaha election is likely to take place in Manipur in the month of April or beginning of May, 2014 .

Lok Sabha is the most important symbol of Indian democracy and a key feature of the Indian Constitution. It enables citizens of India to participate in decision making and control the government. The Lok Sabha has immense powers because it is the representative of the people. The Constitution limits the Lok Sabha to a maximum of 552 members, including not more than 20 members representing people from the Union Territories, and two appointed non-partisan members to represent the Anglo-Indian community

Election manifesto is a vision and mission of contestant political parties that stand for upcoming election. This is an agenda for future plan of action made by the political parties with their voters. If any political parties win the election, they are bound to implement the election manifesto that was pre-committed with the people. Election manifesto usually have two parts. The first part talk about the commitments made during last election and how many of them have been achieved, while the second part will talk about the future action plan to be implemented during the next five years. Election manifesto is therefore an important document for the political party to woo the voters and win the election.

Many of the political parties in Manipur are now trying to identify issues to be included in the election manifesto to woo the voters and win the election. They may like to come up with day to day issues like :-
high price rise of essential commodities ,
creation of employment for educated youths,
development of national, state highways and inter-village roads, creation of infrastructure,
power generation and 24 hour electricity for all villages,
industrialisation and public-private partnership in state industries,
development of tourism, human resource development,
look east policy and linking Manipur with other countries of south east Asia,
health care development, abolition of corruption at all levels and in all forms,
need to speed up the Indo-Naga Peace Talk and finding a respectable solution to those parties involved,
political settlement of underground issues,
need to regulate the entry of foreigners under Foreigners Act-1946 and outsiders through adoption of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 to protect the identity and culture of the indigenous people of Manipur,
lifting of Armed Forces( Special Power) Act-1958 from all districts of Manipur ,
revamping of education system to bring about quality education in schools and colleges,
establishment of Sports University and clear-cut Sports Policy for the state,
a clear cut culture policy of the state, provision of drinking water for all,
provision of Piped LPG domestic supplies for Imphal city and other towns,
creation of jobs for the educated youth through establishment of a Manipur Regimen of about 20,000 capacity in the Indian Army and special recruitment drive for Manipuris in the Indian Railways, Coalmines, Security Agencies like Indian Navy, Air Force, CRPF, BSF, Assam Rifles, ITB etc,
irrigation facilities and support prices for farmers to encourage double and triple cropping , rubber, tea, coffee, and teak plantation in all forest areas of Manipur ,
privatisation of all sick industrial units ,
invitation for private investment in IT, industries, tourism etc,
modern city development of Imphal city etc.

But these are just symptomatic treatments for giving relief to the day to day problems. We want a permanent cure to the long standing core issues of Manipur .

First, we must identify our weakness and core issues which is the root cause of our ethnic conflict, which disturbs peace, prosperity and development of Manipur.

What is our weakness ? The weakness of Manipur is the people. A country with weak people is doomed to fail in all respects. The people of mainly major groups like Nagas, Meiteis, Kukis do not trust each other and there is lack of solidarity and unity and conflict situation between the major ethnic groups leading to the following core issues :-

What are CORE ISSUES

1. Our territorial integrity of Manipur is threatened because of conflict situation. Now the Nagas are demanding "Alternative Administrative Arrangement outside the purview of the Government of Manipur pending final settlement of Naga Issue". This means , there will be two governments and there will be no functional relationship between so called Nagas and Meiteis till final settlement of Naga issue.

In other words, you will have the anatomy but you will not have the physiology. A person with perfect anatomy without physiology is called a dead body . What will happen when the final settlement of the Nagas come. At the time of final settlement, they may renew the demand for Greater Nagaland or South Nagaland or Nagalim .

One interesting fact is that the Government of India has offered to amend the Indian Constitution to fulfil the Naga demand . This is not due to out of love for Nagas or Muivah but to satisfy their own hidden agenda – preventing Muivah from becoming the leader of North East and preventing rising of an united North East or united Manipur.

The Kukis also are demanding separate Kuki state because of mistrust and conflict situation.

2. The division of Manipur into Hill and Valley according to article 371C of Indian Constitution tend to increase the conflict situation

3. The division of same people with common ancestors and common origin into Schedule Tribe and General according to Indian Constitution tend to increase the conflict situation.

4. Because of mistrust and conflict situation, some of the ethnic groups are trying to increase their population by encouraging illegal migration from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal . This is happening not only in Jiribam, Saji Tampak , Kangpokpi, Sapermeina and many others but also in the heart of Imphal town.

Unfortunately , our prominent political leaders are treating this as a vote Bank . They are arranging ration cards, domicile certificates, driving licence , voter ID for these foreigners. The state Government is deliberately ignoring implementation of Foreigners Act-1946. Manipur is likely to face Tripura or Assam or Andaman and Nicobar type of situation in the near future for which the political leaders are to be blamed.

5. The Government of India is encouraging population invasion –a War without Arms – encouraging large scale migration from other states in the name of secularism. Do the Government of India want to convert Mongoloid Manipur. Into Aryan Manipur in the name of secularism. Presently , the number of outsiders has overtaken the total number of tribal population in Manipur.

Probably, the Government of India feel safe so far as there is conflict situation in Manipur.

Why is this happening ?

The immediate cause of this mis -trust and conflict situation among the various ethnic groups is the discriminatory provisions of by the Article 371C of Indian Constitution. The Government of India is happy with this situation. They want to divide us in the name of ethnicity, religion, politics , social status , economic status to prevent us from forming an united North East and an united Manipur. The North East is a sleeping giant . The North East may wake up from slumber and demand to become an independent country This is main headache and worry of the Government of India. They do not want Muivah to emerge as a leader of North East .

We have to search for the root cause of all these problems and find a permanent cure.

In order to find out the root cause, we have to go back to our past history. You can not fight with the past. If you fight with the past, there will be no future.

To be continued...