By Priyanka Gupta
Imphal, Nov 6 : The Manipur blockade has entered its 98th day on Sunday. Women gheraoing ministers, trucks in flames and charred vehicles lining the roads are the scenes in the Senapati district of Manipur, which has become the epicentre of the economic blockade.
The United Naga council is continuing to oppose the bifurcation of the district, which would result in a separate Kuki dominated Sadar Hills area.
S Milan, Information and Publicity Secretary of the United Naga Council, said, "The land of the Nagas have been divided and bifurcated since colonial times. Further bifurcation of our land is not acceptable."
The government agreeing to the Kuki demand has only sharpened the divide. But what remains common to both the Nagas and the Kukis is extreme poverty and neglect. The children of the hills bear the neglect and while some agree that splitting the district for administrative purposes may have its merits, with the Assembly elections near, it is a decision that may further polarise the debate.
Biren Singh, Manipur Government Spokesperson, said, "What is the problem if we decide to bifurcate the district and make Sadar Hill a separate district? We are not playing communal politics."
The Kukis and the Nagas share a bloody history of ethnic conflict, which is now being played out on the state's highways affecting thousands of people.
Ngamkhohao Haokip, President, Sadar Hill District Demand Committee, said, "The whole community adopted this bandh culture as a means to pressurise the government because the Manipur government is stubborn."
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