is Manipur just an outpost of the great Indian democracy !
Is Manipur burning out of control? Manipur, a tiny landlockes north eastern state of India bordering Myanmar is simmering with discontent, and the fire if not doused properly may soon go out of control, reducing ,at least, a little slice of the great Indian democracy to ashes. And mind you once it goes to ashes, it will not arise again like the legendary phoenix.
The present ugly turn of events started with the episode of caprure and alleged subsequent rape and murder of a local woman, Th Manorama by the Indian security forces in the wee hours of July 11. matters soon went out of control as there were spontaneous outbursts of protest culminating in the 'naked protest' by about a dozen ladies at kangla, the seat of ancient manipuri kings currently, the Hq. of the assam rifles.
The people have been demanding punishment of the guilty and scrapping of the armed forces spl powers act which give the indian forces almost absolute powers to arrest and even kill a local person just on the grounds of suspicion.
Instead of heeding to the peoples' voice state govt have been clamping intermittent curfews as if its a child's play and thecentral indian govt also ignored it totally. Neither the PM not any of the oppsition leaders chose to come and see how their 'subjects' were faring in that remote part of india amidst bandhs, curfews and virtual de facto army rule.
The most surprising of them all is that the mainstream indian media have also completely ignored this human tragedy though they have ample time to comment on the middle east, US policy, clinton's latest book etc.
One wonders if there are different classes of citizenship in india : first, second and third etc. if so manipuris must sadly belong to the lowermost of the 3rd class. When will indian govt stop this colonial attitude?
This same indifferent attitude was shown by Mr L K Advani and his ilk in june 2002 agitation in manipur against the NSCN_IM GOI ceasefire extension in which 18 mostly young promising youths were mercilessly shot dead by indiscriminate firing of indian security forces. Then no central leader chose to come to manipur or at least asuage the hurt manipuri sentiments.We hoped things will change with the coming of the UPA govt but alas, no. Dr Man Mohan Singh ji did come to Assam regarding the assam floods. But neither he nor any opp leader thought it worth to visit manipur and allay ruffled nerves.
But at least who will wake up the slumbering media barons and pen-pushers and intellectuals and acdemics of the country and see manipur as an important part of india. Are manipuris untouchables. Every year North east sends thousands of studensts and others to Delhi in the hope of joining the mainsteram and in search of good education and jobs. But,alas, North East and India- a bridge too far. More, this is a one-way bridge. Cant delhi or mainsrtream india also join the NE at least 1/4 th or 1/5 th the way, if not hailfway.
Jai Hind. We belieb\ve india is shining or has the potential to shine> when it does shine,must the NE only refelct the light or dont we also have a right to add to that lustre.
Is North East or manipur just an outpost of the great indian democracy(demoncracy?)?
NE & Delhi : Is the Bridge too far?
When will NE form an integral motif of the Indian mosaic?
When will NE figure and get some space in the national ethos, politics, and psyche?
Jai Hind. Hamara Bharat mahan ( including the North east). Long live indian democracy, but lets not create outposts of indian democacy.
Jai Hind,yes!