Bandhs and blockades on the national highways have returned once again in Manipur, more frequently after the outbreak of ethnic tension since May last year. Now, even BJP makes it a point to skip the part of bandh and blockades in passing the buck to Congress for all the ills in the state.
Now, it has become a perennial affair whether the blockade is officially announced beforehand or a spur of the moment thing. Imphal-Dimapur road (NH 2) and Imphal-Jiribam road (NH 37) have always been a rallying point for politics by certain communities doting both sides of the national highways and a pressure point for raising of all kinds of demands and grievances. The other two national highways seldom come in the limelight.
Manipur being a land-locked state highly depends on the highways for ferrying in food and all other goods including essential items from outside the state, which is exactly why highway blockades have become a bargaining chip for groups who have an axe to grind with the state authorities or holding it to ransom for realisation of their demands howsoever petty it be sometimes.
Well now, as the railway line has reached Khongsang in Tamenglong district essential commodities could be brought in by rail. But, the road from the Khongsang railway station to the highway is so steep that it is dangerous for trucks with heavy loads to climb up safely. So, till the rail line reaches Imphal, Manipur will continue to suffer from highway blockades for years to come.
Now, the Imphal-Dimapur road NH 2 continues to be blocked by Kuki protestors at Kangpokpi in view of the present conflict and several goods laden trucks continue to be stranded on the highways off and on mostly in Naga areas. Now, even the Senapati based Some trucks and oil tankers have taken the circuitous route on Imphal-Jiribam road, which still remains unreliable as a highway. But if one greases the palms of the right people or pays the illegal taxes, anything goes through.
Yet the recent heavy rains had disrupted traffic on both the highways. Truckers and transporters had to face not only the disruptors of traffic including armed groups on the highway but the danger of negotiating the treacherous stretches on the highway. In the last 18 months, the price of food and essential items have sky-rocketed and becoming unaffordable for the poor and needy. The situation is even dire in the hill areas which depend on supply lines from the market in Imphal.
In the process, the price of pulses and vegetables including those brought from outside the state besides potato and onions have reached unprecedented rates. Onion which is usually sold between Rs 20 to 30 per kg at normal times have reached Rs 120 and that too available in a few selected grocery shops. It is said, the fate of a government is decided on the price of onion in the Indian mainland. It is one of the most essential items in every Indian kitchen besides garlic and in the last few decades, onion has become an essential item in most Manipuri kitchens.
But Manipuris can always fall back on its different varieties of Chives particularly Nakuppi and Napaakpi which combines the flavour of both onion and garlic. And of course, spring onion is plentiful. Most vegetarian dishes are prepared with chives. Again, Nakuppi and Napaakpi including its roots add a different flavour to non-vegetarian foods. These chives have stood the test of time and resilience during days of continuous bandhs and blockades in the past. On any given day, one will find these local varieties in big and small bunches in every marketplace although the price may fluctuate from time to time, but never in the scale of onions. In time, we could even be totally free from Indian onion.
