Same old fiddling

Regional sensitivities. This is the official reason, proffered by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, as to why the Government of India remained in deep freeze even as Manipur remained under siege for over 40 days. But surely there is nothing particularly new about the simmering tensions in the region over the demand for a Greater Nagaland? Surely it is the job of the home ministry to remain alert to the possibility of these tensions spilling over and creating a situation of breakdown? And surely regional sensitivities cannot be cause for inaction?

Take the current situation caused by the economic blockade of Manipur imposed by the All-Naga Students Association of Manipur ANSAM. There were several moments in the genesis of this particular stand-off when the Centre could have intervened effectively to tamp down incipient hostilities. It could have, for instance, advised Manipur Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh, not to go ahead with his spectacularly misguided project of announcing June 18 as 8216;state integration day8217;. How can the official government of a state be allowed to actually celebrate a moment in its history when the legislative assembly was torched in the name of regional pride? This is a foolhardy attempt to play with the emotions of the people, on both sides of the divide. There must, after all, be a more benign way for the Meities to convey their disquiet over the Naga peace process.

Then, again, once the blockade occurred, the Centre should have been swift in dismantling it before the ANSAM dug itself in. Now other disgruntled interests, like the Kukis, have also discovered how useful a blockade can be, and are threatening to follow suit. It was with great difficulty that the army could finally secure NH-53, connecting Imphal with Guwahati. If action had been taken promptly, the situation could have been under control by now and Manipur8217;s citizens could have been spared their present ordeal. The blockade of Manipur defies the idea of an integrated India and reveals, once again, the lethargy of the Centre to issues relating to the Northeast.