The modi government has tabled a resolution in the Rajya Sabha today seeking to extend the term of president’s rule in Manipur by another 6 months starting August 13th. This is an admission of administrative and political failure by the home ministry and an indictment of the BJP especially its state leadership under the former chief minister N Biren Singh for fostering a fratricidal civil war amongst the indigenous people, and paralyzing the state. It been more than two years now and the there are no signs of peace and healing between communities cohabitating since all memory. The state resembles a war zone in a state of hostile attrition. The plains are inaccessible for the kukis and the hills for the meitis. More than 200 persons lost their lives and arms from the security forces were looted. Women paraded naked, filmed and circulated across social media platforms. Houses of MLAs torched, government officials segregated on ethnic lines and the center persisting with the partisan and chief instigator,chief minister until his MLAs could no longer support him and live with the people. The home minister’s incompetence is painfully evident. The prime minister has avoided visiting the state, even during the Lok Sabha elections. The state testifies to everything that he and his party has ever been accused of. The extension of article 356, without the serious debate the issue deserves, reflects badly on the status of the north eastern region in our collective imagination. They’re being treated as outliers and this would not help in comforting the people and addressing their alienation from the Indian state. Early resumption of political process, would help in creating the much needed dialogue amongst the people and bring the government apparatus closer to the people. Especially when the central government itself does not enjoy much legitimacy amongst either side.
The home minister should introspect
