Night after the residences of several ministers and MLAs were stormed by irate mob, ruling party legislators were closeted till late at night at the CM Secretariat to find ways to wriggle out of the unenviable situation they have been subjected to in the heat of public anger. Near about 18 ruling MLAs excluding the 10 Kuki MLAs were absent in the meeting. The general public were sceptical but was hoping for a decision from the gathering which could somehow turn the tide aimed at resolution of the 18-month long crisis. But a set of resolutions which were more of an appeal to the state government came out.
The so-called resolutions include affirmation of the state cabinet decision asking for review of reimposition of AFSPA in some parts of the valley, handing over of three important cases including that of innocent slaughter in Jiribam to NIA, declaration of Kuki militants as unlawful organisations. The meeting also called for mass operations in Jiribam to flush out Kuki militants. If the above resolutions taken are not implemented within the specified period, all the NDA Legislators will decide the future course of action in consultation with the people of the state, it further said.
All these resolutions could only be implemented into action, as the ultimate decision lies with the central government. If we remember correctly, security related decisions lies in the court of Union Home ministry as the Unified Command leadership had been handed over to the Security Advisor. Again, the possible course of action to be taken ‘in consultation with the people of the state’ by the legislators is not clearly spelt out. One wonders which section of people they are actually talking about.
As we said before, the state government writing to Centre for review the reimposition of AFSPA in fringe areas of the valley covered by six police stations is nothing but a ploy to cover one’s tracks. Now that the state government has written an official letter, the Chief Minister is trying to give a hint on his innocence or culpability to the decision taken by the Home ministry for the benefit of his public.
Next day came the midnight announcement of Coordinating Committee of Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) resolution to suspend the sit-in-protest at Khwairamband Keithel for seven days. It drew flak from various women groups who were not at all impressed by the resolutions taken in the Monday meeting of legislators convened by Chief Minister N Biren Singh. COCOMI on Wednesday chose to issue a press release instead of a press conference. It stated that its indefinite sit-in protest was suspended because the MLAs issued a written assurance that they will fulfil its demands within a period of seven days. However, the organisation is all set to launch a severe form of agitation if their assurances are not turned into action within a week, the release further said.
Like the women activists who protested the unilateral decision to suspend the sit-in-protest, people were not amused as could be seen in the barrage of memes and trolling in the social media. Interestingly, COCOMI also did not spelt out what exactly they mean by ‘severe form of agitation’, like that of the legislators’ resolution. Somehow, they seem to take the people for granted and that people would automatically follow whatever agitation they announce now. So far, people had been following their lead. But now, that kind of blind support is a bit far-fetched. When both the legislators and civil society organisations are in a state of disconnect with the aspirations of the general public, an ominous YOKHOKLAAN or civil war is looming large.
