Manipur paying for center’s hubris

The news of afspa extension in Manipur and neighboring areas of Arunachal Pradesh is a grim reminder of the fact that the situation in the state is far from normal and that the disturbance is spreading to neighboring states also. The state has been on the sectarian cauldron for almost two years now and is under President rule for around 2 months. Recently we saw a meiti Supreme Court judge on official duty returning without visiting Kuki administered areas despite declaring his intention to do so. The writ of the state has worn thin and the people are awaiting a healing effort from the center. The bravado of toughness and uncompromising posturing may appeal to the jingoistic supporters and cadres of north India but is no substitute for humility and statecraft. The infamous law has been controversial and the people especially women have been protesting against it for long, and the government had widely publicized its temporary withdrawal from some parts but the present extension has undone such publicity. The government could not exclude even the meiti dominated areas or even the imphal valley despite claiming meiti support over the last 8 years of bjp rule and having a meiti strongman at the helm. It is high time that the center takes the situation seriously and involves all stakeholders including opposition in the reconciliation process.