From Our Special Correspondent
The hamstrung Congress ministry in Manipur which cannot withstand the double edged attacks from the students and the activists of the Inner Line Permit has the Hobson’s choice to close down the educational institutes in the state. In the past the government has thus taken the easy way out when the students’ wing of the ILP committee caused headache. But then there were signs of protest as some schools had defied the closure order of the government.The deadline of the ILP committee expires today. It had announced that it will resume its agitation from tomorrow. By now it is clear that the government and the all political parties’ committee had taken them for a ride with false promises and wobbly steps. In the past the government could withstand the agitations and that is why it had invited the activists to the negotiating table. But it transpires thatthe government move was meant to stall for time.Students’ League of Manipur was taken aback when the principal of T.G. higher secondary school, L.Biren declared the school closed yesterday. The unauthorised move was intended to sabotage the SLM plan to take out a procession with the students of this school. Parents who are mystified with the temerity of the principal are questioning the authority and expediency of closing down the school in this manner at the behest of the higher ups. Because the rulers who cannot justify the splurge of Rs 224 crore in “clearing” the water hyacinth in the Loktak lake are using the officials who are in chummy terms to counteract the campaign of the students. But this may not be the end of the story since SLM has many other plans. It will be keenly watched what response the prime minister gives during his public speech here on November 30.College and higher secondary students have also pledged to support the renewed ILP campaign. The school students have been very active in this campaign to regulate the entry and stay of the migrant workers.There is gathering public supports in the backdrop of the reports that suspected foreigners have been coming to Imphal without valid identification and travel papers. One is reminded of the influx of Nepalis in the early 1960s with the cooperation of MST drivers who earned some extra money. There are already some ghettos in Manipur where even locals do not feel comfortable to visit. Recent reports said that migrants had purchased land in the heart of the Imphal town and the ILP activists are yet to announce the next course of actions in this regard.Even without the college and higher secondary students the government could not control the agitations. In other words the entire state will be plunged into lawlessness. It has become increasingly clear that the educational institutes may be closed down without much about the students. Since there is opposition the issue will never come up for public discussion. In other words chief minister shall never be made accountable for such an anti people move.
