Allegations and propaganda warfare, which has been witnessing in these part of India by sections of armed opposition group waging war against the Government of India is not an issue for the upcoming 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election. Draconian and suppressive law that is being enforced in this region too is a wasted matter for those political parties fielding candidates in this election. Even individuals who had come up to challenge independently had now thought that AFSPA or the various other issues haunting the state is of no used in winning the confidence of the voter. Election this time is about money and power. The real issues of insurgencies, human rights violation have been completely forgotten not only by the aspirant candidates but also by the voters. But October 15 arrives, we in the Imphal Times do not want to skip the issue encircling over the event happen on that day of 1949, which perhaps is the root of the present menace.
October 15 is a significant date for the people of the state. Reason on this day of 1949, the erstwhile kingdom, Manipur was merged to the Indian Union. Many said the merger was legally done. To the words of Professor N Sanajaoba, Manipur was not married but forcibly made to marry under duress. So it is more like a rape of a kingdom.
As the important date is being sideline by almost all mainland authority, we in the Imphal Times reminded that the merger of Manipur to the Indian Union in October 15, 1949 after the controversial signing of the merger agreement between Maharajah Bodhachandra and the representatives of the Indian Union on September 21 of the same year at Shillong is the root of all mayhem in the present state of Manipur.
For years people of the state have been witnessing several rebel groups observing October 15 as “Black Day” by freezing all wakes of live under the spell of general strike. The rebels do have their cause in calling the day general strike and most surprising thing the irresponsive attitude of both the state and central government to the calls made on this day. The silence of both the state and central government seems to be a clear indication on the righteousness to the call of the rebel or else why shouldn’t there be any statement from the government authority regarding the reasons that the rebels had put forward justifying their cause.
A stitch in time saves River nine – the saying should be well think upon. For someone who wanted to go deep into the genesis of all this chaos arisen out of the conflict we certainly do have reason to blame the Central government authority for all the present state of our state.
In his book “Open Secret”, Maloy Krishna Dhar, the then joint director of the SIB, an intelligent agency had categorically stated the political and economic condition of the state. As according to him he had submitted reports on why the youths especially the Meitei had frustration to the merger of the erstwhile kingdom to the Indian Union terming it as ignorance from the part of the Union government authority. It was in the late 60s that intelligent agency had understood and further cautioned the Union leadership about the possible raise of a separatist movement as an outcome of negligence and proper understanding about the problem of the state.
Points here we wanted every guardian of the country’s constituency is the need of special attention to the problem of the state. A mere policy for awarding rehabilitation package to some of the rebel groups and signing of peace deal or cease fire is not a lasting solution. Rather it would break out unexpecte problem to the state.
A wrong is a wrong, and a right is always right. What is wrong in correcting the wrongs? India now is emerging as a super power and it is not wrong to speculate in the possible interference of external force to distort the country’s unity. The only means to strengthen the ties of the country’s unity is through proper clarification on what had been committed before. It was a fact that people in the state believed that merger of Manipur with the Indian Union was Illegal- a resolution adopted by a peoples’ convention held at GM Hall Imphal in 1993.
Now the mindset of the youth had change a lot, no individuals are fool enough to be driven by some cheap provocative propaganda. So it is better the government accept what has happened before and should sort out the conflict with proper understanding. After all, rebels waging war are also human beings.
