Ongoing blockade---Instructions from New Delhi.

This may sound a bit dramatic but let me say it---

How is Manipuri society's destiny got so tangled up with the ongoing blockade?

We are talking about our destiny because the hardships heaped on us, and the profound questions thrown up, by this ongoing blockade may help us open up our eyes to the true personality of the Indian State in action.Once the majority of our populace reach that point,we may come face to face with our destiny.

On the 51st day of the ongoing economic blockade, let me make a list of the intructions sent down by New Delhi to the blockade sponsors.

In other words,the list portrays the dirty war being waged by the Indian State against the helpless and innocent people of Manipur.

1)The first is not exactly the intruction sent down to the blockade sponsors but nontheless an instruction.

I can't the remember the date but it was in the early days of the ongoing blocakde when Assam Rifles sepoys beat up blockade supporters on the highway 39.There was a huge commotion in the Sardar hills in protest against the AR sepoys.

New Delhi instructed the AR to show the way to the Manipuri society by its example:BEAT UP THE BLOCKADE SUPPORTERS AND OPEN UP THE BLOCKADE.

2)The second episode is also similar to the first one but this time Assam Rifles convoys promised safe passage to some Manipuri truckers by letting them mingle with the AR trucks on the NH39.But they somehow let the blockade supporters burn down 4 trucks.

Then, they again beat up some blockade supporters.

This time--more passionate case of leading by example:BEAT UP THE BLOCKADE SUPPORTERS AND OPEN UP THE BLOCKADE.

3)This was 3rd September 2011.And it was in Keithelmanbi.

As a positive response to the appeal made personally in a public meeting held in Sardar hills by the president of a prominent civil Society organization,the last of the series of public meeting called by the Sardar Hills district Demand Committee in Keithelmanbi announced the suspension of the econonmic blockade.Even as it was being announced,suddenly there arose a fracas within the meeting.And,the announcement was kept in abeyance so that it could be confirmed by the following day.

It was a clear case of an intruction to scuttle the announcement by New Delhi to the
underground outfits currently engaged in Suspension of operation with it.

It is to be noted here that from the beginning of the series of public meetings in four different places(the last being Keithelmanbi),there was a very positive vibe that the economic blockade might be suspended.So, the Indian STate had got a plenty of time to prepare the instruction to scuttle the announcement in Keithelmanbi.

4)12th September 2011.

The Sardar Hills District Demand Committee announced that the existing Sardar Hills
boundary should be kept in tact--no redrawing,no tweaking.

This is huge change in the stance of the Committee.

Previously,in all the public meetings(in even one held in Imphal)they wanted district first--boundary question could be discussed later on.

Now,it's not the question of districthood---but the question of "Kuki land".

On another instruction from New Delhi,the functioning of the Committee was hijacked by the underground elements and the demand for a districthood morphed into an ethnic issue.

5)15th September 2011.

Mr P Chidambaram,the Home Minister,Union Of India,daintily came out to the floor of the conference of top cops in New Delhi and heartily announced that his Union has just now begun to face the newest problem--BLOCKADE ON THE HIGHWAYS.

It took the very presence of the honorable Home Minister himself to give blessings to their henchsmen on the highways of Manipur!Come on,New Delhi!!

6)20th September 2011.

As if to celebrate the 50th day of the blockade,Mr Wungnaoshang Keishing,the Phungyar MLA,began running front page ads in major Imphal dailies.

We have to remember here(as my last post had discussed in detail) that the ongoing blockade aka the newest dirty war by the Indian State,was enunciated by an instruction given to Mr Keishing.Now, we have just seen Mr Keishing recieving the second instruction.

So,what might be the second instruction by New Delhi to Mr Keishing?

Provocations on the highways won't do. Now,bring the provocations to the heart of Imphal Valley--Konung Lampak(Palace compound).

So,Mr Keishing dutifully announced in his ads a political conference of Phungyar
constituency at Konung Lampak on the 5th of October 2011!He is inviting 'headsmen,pastors,leaders of the students union and women union,social workers and well wishers of the Phungyar constituency'.

The ads continue their second day run on the front pages of today's major dailies.

Amidst the dramatic price rises,so much uncertainties and so much pent-up feelings,a lone ranger might throw a rock towards the conference.Then,a minor scuffle.Then,a bigger one.Then,somebody might get hurt and then,God forbid it,somebody might get killed.Then,we have the spark of an ethnic clash.

Clearly,Mr Keishing is instructed to aim for that spark in Konung Lampak--the spark so far proving illusive despite such intensive and prolonged provocations on the highways.

New Delhi is becoming desperate for a spark of an ethnic war in Manipur.