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Table of Contents
What is a Blockade?
To seal off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving.
The Manipur Blockade
The blockading of roads for any commercial vehicles taking goods to the Manipur valley, by the United Naga Council (UNC) since 1st November 2016 has severely affected life in the State, with shortages and escalating costs of essential supplies such as fuel and food.
Highways NH 2, NH 37 Lifeline of Manipur
Demographics
Population 60% in valleys – Majority Meitei people 40% in hills – Majority of Nagas and Kuki
Why the Blockade?
The govt of Manipur led by Congress CM Okram Ibobi Singh announced the creation of 7 new districts, carved out of the existing districts, for administrative convenience All 5 hill districts(Naga dominated) were bifurcated without consulting the Naga people
Events
- 1 Nov – The blockade starts
- 25 Nov- Arrests of two top leaders of the UNC
- Counter blockades by valley people
- 9 Dec- 7 new districts announced
- Late Dec- violence and arson at various places 26 Dec- Centre sends paramilitary forces Late January- talks between UNC, Manipur govtØ and Union Home ministry begin
The New districts
- Jiribam, Kangpokpi, Tengoupal, Pharzol, Kakching, Noney and Kamjong, Taking the total number of districts in the state from 9 to 16. *Not to scale. For representational purpose only
- UNC says Naga villages have been “appropriated” and merged with non-Naga areas to form the new districts in an attempt to divide the Naga people.
- They believe the new districts are akin to a ‘Kuki homeland’ in Naga areas.
- Also, the government did not consult the Hill Area Committees. The Hill Area Committees are formed to protect the rights of hill people, and under Article 371(C) of Constitution, must be consulted on matters relating to tribal people. The naga people believe that these areas are their ‘ancestral’ land and are part of ‘Greater Nagalim/Nagaland’ which consists of Nagaland state, areas of Arunachal, Manipur, Assam and Myanmar.
Upcoming Elections
- Manipur state Assembly elections scheduled in March 2017
- Logistical Problem for ECI in conducting the election process.
- Peaceful, Free and fair elections will be hampered
- The redrawing of boundaries is a sensitive issue in the complex social fabric of Manipur and has immediate and real consequences for the law and order situation in the state. The state govt, union govt and the civil society should take a proactive role in resolving the issue by taking in concerns of all stakeholders
Burning Issues | Free PDF
By Dr. Mahipal Singh Rathore
Facebook Id-> facebook.com/mahipalsinghrathore
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