In his desperate bid to win the upcoming Assembly elections in Manipur, the Congress Chief Minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh took two decisions that have ripped the state apart.
First, he passed three bills that restrict outsiders from settling in Manipur. Secondly, the CM created seven new districts. The sole aim was to win the Kuki votes, in the process upsetting the Nagas living in the hill districts of Manipur.
In retaliation, from October 31,the United Naga Council has blocked NH-2 (which links Imphal and Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam). These two highways are the lifeline for the Imphal valley and the rest of the state.
A counter-blockade was called by the Meiti groups of Manipur in late December, which stopped the movement of goods and people to the hill districts.
These blockades have completely crippled Manipur. The prices of essential goods have shot up. The fuel crisis is at an alarming level, with petrol selling at Rs 200 a litre and a cylinder of LPG costing Rs 2,000.
It’s been almost two months that the state is grappling with the blockade, but neither the state or central government has done enough to resolve it. Even the national media has chosen not to cover it extensively. With no solution in sight the people of the state are angry and upset. and with just one question in their minds: Why has the rest of India chosen to ignore them?
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