By T. Gouzadou, Ex-Minister
Manipur had been a Union Territory from 1956 and a full-fledged state from 1972. The status of Manipur is not inferior to the status of any other states of India. Therefore, there is no reason why we should blame the government of India for our backwardness, As we have our own government, we have to blame the Ministers and MLAs for our backwardness and deterioration of law and orders. We have to blame ourselves too because we have elected them to be our representatives.
While other states are making good progress, Manipur is moving backwards on account of corruption which has gone deep into the hearts of the people including politicians and bureaucrats with a sad result that the State Police alone could no longer maintain law and order, Since maintenance of law and order is the responsibility of a full-fledged state, the Government of Manipur had requested the Central Government to send security forces to Manipur to help the civil Administration. Those many battalions of security forces have been employed in Manipur, They will go back when our Chief Minister can honestly say that their services are no longer required as peace has been restored in Maxiipur. To enable them to perform their duties effectively they have to work under the provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958, We know that this Act will cease in Manipur as soon as there is no longer insurgency problem in the state. Attempt to secede from India, rampant abductions and killings in addition to large scale extortion favour imposition of this Act. The only way to get this Act repealed is to create a peaceful atmosphere in Manipur. It is said that when guns are silent, flowers blossom on earth.
Whenever there is economic blockade on the national highways 59 and 53, the people suffer much. This shows our dependence on other states for survival. In olden days each village was self-sufficient because the needs of the villagers were few. In this present age our needs are very many for which we have to depend on other states. We cannot remain isolated. Therefore, we can understand that it is best for Manipur to remain as one of the states of India. Who knows God desires that Manipur should remain as a part of India. That might be the reason why there was *Merger Agreement'. To declare general strike by any organisation when the President of India or the Prime Minister of India visits Manipur is to block the blessings of the Central Government to a great extent; It is only through the wisdom of the Government of India that we may move forward towards prosperity, Let us continue to work for peace because we know that without peace there is no development.
Manipur had been a Union Territory from 1956 and a full-fledged state from 1972. The status of Manipur is not inferior to the status of any other states of India. Therefore, there is no reason why we should blame the government of India for our backwardness, As we have our own government, we have to blame the Ministers and MLAs for our backwardness and deterioration of law and orders. We have to blame ourselves too because we have elected them to be our representatives.
While other states are making good progress, Manipur is moving backwards on account of corruption which has gone deep into the hearts of the people including politicians and bureaucrats with a sad result that the State Police alone could no longer maintain law and order, Since maintenance of law and order is the responsibility of a full-fledged state, the Government of Manipur had requested the Central Government to send security forces to Manipur to help the civil Administration. Those many battalions of security forces have been employed in Manipur, They will go back when our Chief Minister can honestly say that their services are no longer required as peace has been restored in Maxiipur. To enable them to perform their duties effectively they have to work under the provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958, We know that this Act will cease in Manipur as soon as there is no longer insurgency problem in the state. Attempt to secede from India, rampant abductions and killings in addition to large scale extortion favour imposition of this Act. The only way to get this Act repealed is to create a peaceful atmosphere in Manipur. It is said that when guns are silent, flowers blossom on earth.
Whenever there is economic blockade on the national highways 59 and 53, the people suffer much. This shows our dependence on other states for survival. In olden days each village was self-sufficient because the needs of the villagers were few. In this present age our needs are very many for which we have to depend on other states. We cannot remain isolated. Therefore, we can understand that it is best for Manipur to remain as one of the states of India. Who knows God desires that Manipur should remain as a part of India. That might be the reason why there was *Merger Agreement'. To declare general strike by any organisation when the President of India or the Prime Minister of India visits Manipur is to block the blessings of the Central Government to a great extent; It is only through the wisdom of the Government of India that we may move forward towards prosperity, Let us continue to work for peace because we know that without peace there is no development.