Manipur: Choking Problem

Both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP think the burning issue of the creation of new districts in Manipur will be a game changer in the forthcoming election.

- Sushanta Talukdar

THE stage is set for Assembly elections in Manipur, to be held in two phases, on March 4 and 8, even as the State is reeling under a blockade with its two lifelines—National Highways 2 and 37—under siege. The United Naga Council (UNC) has enforced the “economic blockade” to protest against the Manipur government’s decision to create seven new districts. The UNC has decided to continue with the blockade during and beyond the elections and has decided to intensify the picketing of government offices and the “ban” on the construction of national projects in Naga areas.

The people of Manipur have been grappling with a severe shortage of essential commodities since the blockade began on November 1, 2016. The prices of essential commodities have escalated. And there seems to be no immediate end to the crisis even though a convoy of trucks carrying essential commodities, escorted by Central forces, to the State capital Imphal has eased the supply position. However, both New Delhi and Imphal seem to have ignored the lessons from the bouts of economic blockade imposed in the past and there are no visible efforts to resolve the crisis other than providing escort to trucks carrying goods. Violence broke out in different parts of the State during that blockade and counter-blockade.

Matters came to a boil this time on December 8, 2016, with the Congress government led by Okram Ibobi Singh issuing a gazette notification on the creation of seven new districts—Kangpokpi, Jiribam, Noney, Tengnoupal, Pherzawl, Kamjong and Kakching. Of the undivided nine districts, the four hill districts of Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel are Naga dominated. Churachandpur has a dominant population of Kuki and other tribes, while the Meiteis dominate the undivided four valley districts.