Of late, the Okram Ibobi Singh led congress government in the state of Manipur has once more tamed the anger of the hot bloods (who are demanding implementation of a legislation which can keep control of the illegal influx in the state) by introducing a bill, that wasn’t expected by the people. The mass uprising for repeal of draconian AFSPA during 2004 was cooled down by lifting the Act from the 7 assembly segments of greater Imphal area and not by fulfilling the real demands for lifting of the Act from the entire state. Mr. Chief Minister did seem to know the heart beats of the Manipuri people as he knows well how to sideline the momentum of the peoples’ anger by doing things which he can stand just to the eyes of the innocent general public. Perhaps he thought the people as a mere ignorant fools which he can drive at any direction at any time.The last few years saw the anguished of the civil society organisation over the threats to the indigenous people of the state by the rise of the non local influx. Some of the civil society organisations even claimed the number of non local much more than the indigenous population at Jiribam sub division area. The momentum of the agitation for introducing of a legislation to check the rise of the outsiders nearly reached its climax this year and our cunning Chief Minister seem to have understood about the possible outcome of sidelining the matter. Thus, his government constituted an all political party committee to suppress the peoples’ movement. As the burning fire could not be kept under the blanket for long, the congress government led by Chief Minister Ibobi was compelled to introduce a bill that was never wanted by them. The last Assembly session was forced to extend for another two days as there was a possibility of another mass movement. And finally a bill called Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVT & MW) Bill 2015, was introduced and passed without proper debate in the house. Some opposition MLAs even walk out of the house while the government passed the bill.On further discussion over the content of the bill, it is now learnt that there are certain loopholes to the contents of the bills like overriding some of the terms with certain central legislation. This means, the bill is not likely to get assent from the governor. This is the technical side but when one goes deep inside the content of the bill, it is also learnt that most of the provision are meant for protection of the outsiders like the non local migrant labours rather than protecting the indigenous population of the state.Of now, people are still silent. But the silent does not mean that the issue can be put under the carpet for all time. The next time there is a possibility of witnessing a hostile agitation which may be even more than the one Manipur witness in June 2001. It is better the government act when there is still time.
