The politics of Manipur – especially in the run up to the assembly polls – is giving a clearer message that the divide between the hills and the valley is getting wider by the day. In effect this means – the differences between Meitei natives and the Nagas in the hills would only increase further. The Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has all the virtues of a surviving political animal – a shrewd, well calculative and even ruthless.
In power since 2002, Ibobi had braved through serious political challenges more than once. In 2010 – faced with a serious internal revolt within Congress, he played up an emotive card and disallowed National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) faction leader Thuingaleng Muivah’s visit to his native village.
This might have embarrassed the then Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who had personally assured Muivah about such a visit, but it cemented the ‘Meitei sentiments’ in favour of Ibobi. Subsequently, he not only survived, actually he thrived.
Now, yet again faced with a serious anti-incumbency wave, Ibobi has played another master card.
THE MASTER CARD
This time he split the hill districts – which hitherto were considered administrative strongholds of the Nagas. It goes without saying today that the split in hill districts would complicate the political chess board as the new districts as announced on December 9, 2016 by the Ibobi government would fulfill long pending demand of the Kukis. True to his style, Ibobi summoned a cabinet meet late night and virtually enforced the decision and his colleagues had little choice other than to sign the papers.
A BJP leader in the know of things in Manipur has tried to downplay the political Machiavellian move of Ibobi Singh and told Eastern Panorama, “The new districts are in effect only new administrative set up and not island nations. Same laws of the land would apply and so even Kuki population should be aware of the difference between a regime that plays politics and a dispensation under BJP that will deliver”.
Needless, to add, the BJP has promised a ‘Congress Mukt’ Manipur.
Bu hikaye Eastern Panorama dergisinin January 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Eastern Panorama dergisinin January 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Overseas Racket In Wild Life Trafficking
Barak Valley for its strategic location bordering Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya and the district of Dima Hasao has been infamous for it being a corridor of extremists, smugglers, illegal transportation of Burmese betel nuts, black diamond and now trafficking in wild life with overseas connections.
Kamala To Contest U.S. Poll
First black & Indian American Woman to contest on Democratic Ticket
Tribute To the Dada of Indian Politics
Former President Pranab Mukherjee, aged 84, passed away on 31 August evening after prolonged illness. He was admitted to the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment on August 10 and was operated the same day for removal of a clot in his brain. He later had gone into septic shock due to his lung infection.
Salute to the Silent Warriors!
The Army Dog Unit, fondly called “The Silent Warriors”, has time and again proven to be an asset for the security forces.
THE WATER BOMB TICKING
Tick-Tocking Anti-India Games, China Now Aims to Deluge the Northeast Amlan Home Chowdhury
Submergence Tolerant: Assam
It took 10 years time for Assam government to make the state’s rice farmers shift to new generation crop – Submergence tolerant…. and finally the concept is now popular at least among 60 percent of farmers of the flood-hit districts.
RECALLING - THE MAN OF GREAT VIRTUES P.A.SANGMA
As September approaches there begins a change in Delhi, morning becomes cooler, midday sun a bit friendly, humidity too pretends to be packing off and a sense of an all-pervasive thermal comfortability becomes visible outdoors. I still remember P A Sangma was born on 1st September 1947and the remembrance takes me to look back and a montages of memories come crowding in: some events are still clear while some got blurred, perhaps the inner flash is partly diffused.
NAGAON PAPER MILL
The Lost Glory of Assam
AYURVEDA
An Age-old Indian Intellectual Property in Management of COVID-19
Ayodhya
Splendid Spiritual Destination Development Takes Off
