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The Manipur crisis is gradually exposing the soft underbelly of politics that prevails mainly among small north-eastern states. Some Northeast states are too small and politically unviable to put up a fight against the Centre. They depend on the Centre for everything - from funds to schemes. Unable to make their case through democratic processes within the state government, the tribes and ethnic people of the small north-eastern states resort to militancy to make their voice heard. The propensity for militancy is mainly on account of the geography at the international border, poverty, backwardness and the martial attributes of the people. Especially during elections and award of government contract, the MLAs have a symbiotic relationship with militant organisations where both parties involved benefit from the arrangement. Similarly, MLAs also share a symbiotic relationship with the state government as without its favour they are deprived of government benefits and projects, making them kowtow to the policies of the state government.
In September 2024, some members of a group called the “Imphal Naga Forum” had asked the State government to hold elections to the District Councils. The Imphal Naga Forum clarified that it was done by some vested persons and not by the group. Whatever the reasons, the suspicion at that point of time that some vested interest groups were collaborating with the establishment to create division within the tribal people is fully exposed now with the recent capitulation of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) to the objective of state government to put in place 18 handpicked political persons arbitrarily and two official nominees to constitute autonomous district councils (ADC) in all the six district councils in Manipur before ADC elections are held. The 18 handpicked persons will hold office till election is held to constitute elected ADCs and elections will obviously be held under the antiquated Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971. The recommendation of the HAC is to hold elections as soon as possible, but no one knows when ADC elections will actually be held given the uncertainty and abnormal law and order situation affording the arbitrarily nominated persons a free hand to manipulate the situation to their advantage.
The HAC meeting was held on 14th October 2024 in Imphal which was obviously attended only by Naga MLAs. No MLAs from Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes would have attended the HAC meeting in Imphal. The quorum of the HAC in the absence of 10 MLAs from Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes and its sanctity is questionable. Fully aware that the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes, who have been banished from Imphal valley, are asking for separate administration, the actions of Naga MLAs recommending for holding elections under the antiquated Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 is shameful and amounts to betrayal of tribal solidarity.
The Naga MLAs, who had attended the HAC meeting should have declined and regretted the government’s reference dated 13.06.2024 of the Cabinet decision by stating that the political climate in Manipur, on account of the unresolved and ongoing ethnic conflict demonstrated by the fact that 10 MLAs from the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes have not attended the HAC meeting or any assembly sessions since 3rd May 2023 conflict erupted, is not conducive to hold elections to the ADCs. By toeing the state government line, the Naga MLAs have exposed their subservient nature to political leadership and divide and rule policy of dominant community. They should have stood tall by taking the high moral ground that this is not the right time to hold elections as the ethnic conflict is unresolved. In fact, two Ministers from the Kuki tribe have not been discharging their duties from Imphal. The 10 Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs have not attended any of the Assembly sessions after 3rd May 2023 ethnic flare-up. There is not a single Kuki-Zomi-Hmar individual living in Imphal valley now. The Naga MLAs seem to have lost all moral fibre by recommending holding of ADC elections under the abnormal situation sans participation of a community in the political, administrative and legislative spheres in Imphal.
The entire matter smacks of political high handedness of the state government, unmindful of the misery of internally displaced persons (IDP) with scant regard to the ongoing conflict. The governments at the centre and state are to be blamed for their inability to bring back normalcy in the state even after 17 months of conflict and instead of working hard for a political solution to bring back normalcy, strident attempts are being made to browbeat an entire community who constitute 16% of the state’s population by ignoring their sentiments.
Apart from these, the recommendation made by HAC to nominate 18 persons and 2 officials to constitute each ADC till the time elected ADCs are in position is grossly unconstitutional, unlawful, arbitrary and lacks fair play, transparency and accountability. It is not known under what provision of law or the constitution such appointment by nomination of the entire ADC is suggested. Hill Areas CSOs should challenge the state government’s decision to nominate 20 persons for each ADC till elections are held in the court of law. Further, CSOs should pre-empt holding elections under the archaic Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 by the state government in connivance with pliable MLAs by demanding for holding elections for territorial councils only under Article 244, 244-A and the Sixth Schedule.
However, if for valid reasons elections to ADCs cannot be held after the term of duly elected ADC ends, the state government can always resort to promulgating an Ordinance or enactment of an Act for amendment of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 for enabling appointment of an officer or authority after the expiry of the term of ADC to perform all powers and duties of the council till such time normalcy returns for conducting fair and just elections. After all, the archaic Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 is a legislation of the state and the state government can amend and modify the said Act as it wishes.
As already suspected that the demand of the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes for separate administration/UT/State will boil down to territorial council type of local self government, The Sangai Express reported on 18th October 2024 that a territorial council for the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes could be in the offing. Under such circumstances, the recommendation of HAC meeting of 14th October 2024 attended by Naga MLAs has exposed their weakness and shameful action before the general public. The news about territorial council for the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes however raises the question of what will happen to the ADCs of the hill districts predominantly inhabited by Nagas. Will they be left out from the dispensation likely to be granted to the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes? The likelihood of being left out is very high as no demand has been made recently by the Naga CSOs of Manipur or by the Naga peace negotiators. Manipur Nagas are faced with a dilemma whether to keep mum and continue with the antiquated Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 and eat humble pie or raise their voice now and ask for similar dispensation. In my humble opinion, there is no conflict or contradiction with the Naga peace talks which is expected to bring settlement of greater nature if the hill districts predominantly inhabited by Nagas also ask for territorial council similar to that of the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribes. Making the demand now by Naga CSOs will help hasten conclusion of a political settlement to bring peace in Manipur.
Ngaranmi Shimray
New Delhi