Soft on NSCN(IM), Modi Govt Unmoved on Manipur Economic Blockade

The state of Manipur is once again in turmoil, with Imphal witnessing large-scale rioting in the past few days.

Angry people set on fire vehicles in Imphal East district on Sunday in protest against the United Naga Council (UNC)’s indefinite economic blockade. (Photo: PTI)

More than a month into the crippling economic blockade imposed on Manipur by the United Naga Council (UNC), backed by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), the Centre appears to have adopted a hands-off policy. This has left the political leadership in the state to believe that the Narendra Modi government is being soft to the insurgent outfit.

Despite desperate calls by political leaders including Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and the state bureaucracy to end the blockade which began on 9 November, Rajnath Singh-led Home Ministry has not stepped in to quell the UNC’s hostile action, which if allowed to continue could spark violent clashes in the ethnically diverse Northeastern state.

Also Read: 50 Days of Economic Blockade: The Manipur Crisis Explained

Centre’s Ostrich-like Stand

The Centre’s ‘ostrich-like’ stand comes months before Manipur is scheduled to have Assembly elections in which the BJP will aim to expand its electoral base in the Northeast.

The decision to impose an economic blockade was taken in February after several Naga organisations decried the so-called “anti-tribal” bills – basically creation of two full-fledged districts, Jiribam and Sadar Hills – adopted by the state government.

The Meitis, who primarily live in the plains and in the Imphal valley, imposed a counter-blockade, preventing vehicles from carrying essential goods to the Naga-dominated hill districts.

Manipur CM’s Pleas

Documents in possession of The Quint reveal the precarious situation in the state as well as the Centre’s apathetic attitude. Two days after the blockade began, Ibobi Singh wrote to Rajnath, saying: “As UNC is an organisation controlled by the NSCN(IM), and NSCN(IM) is in ceasefire with the Government of India, the intervention of the MHA is very much needed to call-off the economic blockade immediately.”

This did not elicit any response from either Rajnath or the Union Home Secretary Rajeev Mehershi.

Violence has already broken out in parts of Manipur, especially Imphal, where 22 trucks were burnt on 18 December.

The major reason for the Centre’s disinclination to take steps against the NSCN(IM) or to have the economic blockade lifted is the ceasefire agreement which has been in place since 1997. However, the agreement has not persuaded the cadres of the insurgent organisation to surrender their weapons. 

A copy of the chief minister’s letter to Rajnath Singh. (Photo: The Quint)

So-called Centre-NSCN(IM) Peace Accord

Within months of assuming power, Modi government signed a so-called peace accord with the NSCN(IM), which was nothing more than a commitment to ink an agreement and not a conclusive deal.

Negotiations continue interminably between the Centre’s interlocutor for the Naga peace talks, RN Ravi, a former Intelligence Bureau special director, and the NSCN(IM), but a “final, conclusive” agreement has been elusive so far.

As a result of the blockade over Manipur, four of whose hill districts are Naga-dominated, two national highways (NH-2 and NH-37) remain cut off. The current situation has exacerbated the economic hardships caused by the prime minister’s decision to demonetise two high-value currency notes.

Also Read: Curfew in Manipur, Violent Protests Over Creation of New Districts

Cutting off State’s Lifelines

The CM’s letter continues: “The aforesaid two NHs are the lifeline to Manipur and all traffic and goods move through these two National Highways to meet the needs of the people.

“Due to the blockade, there is no stock of essential commodities like petroleum products, LPG and other commodities… It is pertinent to mention that the current situation has serious potential of an ethnic clash and major law and order problem due to scarcity of essential commodities, if the situation continues like this.”

The 8 November withdrawal of the Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes does not seem to have affected the NSCN(IM) adversely.

On the contrary, the Centre bent backwards to please the insurgent outfit by having the Guwahati branch of the RBI urgently fly out Rs 122 crore to two Naga-dominated districts of Manipur – Ukhrul and Tamenglong – as against only Rs 107 crore for the rest of the state.

Rajnath, Doval Unmoved

Ibobi Singh’s letter, which emphasised that his government “has given the clarification that no issues/decisions will be taken on any matter which affects the interests of any community without consulting all the stakeholders concerned”, does not seem to have moved either Rajnath at the MHA or National Security Advisor Ajit Doval at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Singh’s 11 November letter was preceded by a “telephonic discussion” with the Union home minister.

The Modi government’s continued silence and inaction over the economic blockade is violative of the Manipur High Court’s 25 November judgement whereby it directed the state and central governments to take “immediate effective measures for lifting the ongoing economic blockade,” the state chief secretary reminded Mehershi in a letter dated 28 November.