Boycott Of NH – 39

By T. Gouzadou

During the days when Manipur was a Union Territory, our political leaders joined hands demanding Statehood for Manipur. There were frequent hartals, relay-hunger strikes, arrests, lathi-charges, firings, and normal activities remained paralyzed most of the time. Their demand for responsible Government was granted on the 21st January, 1972 when Manipur became a full-fledged State headed by a Governor. The aspirations of the people were fulfilled one after the other: from Part C State (1949-56) to Union Territory (1957-71) and from Union Territory to Statehood (1972 onwards). We have to be grateful to the Government of India for it. It is a sad fact that even after thirty years of Statehood we have not been able to make Manipur a land of peace and joy because most of us cannot feel that Manipur is our native land and the people living in Manipur are our brothers and sisters. Deterioration of law and order in our State has compelled us to request the Central Government for protection of our National Highways. Is it wrong to say that we are not able to exercise the power given to a full-fledged State?From Article 246(3) and Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, it is seen that the Legislature of any State has exclusive power to make laws for such State or any part thereof with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List II in the Seventh Schedule referred to as State List. Serial No. 1 and 2 of the State List are reproduced below to show that maintenance law and order is the responsibility of the State Government:1. Public order (but not including the use of naval, military or air force or any other armed forces of the Union, or of any other force subject to the control of the Union or of any contingent or unit thereof in aid of civil power).2. Police, including railway and village police.The AMUCO has rightly said that it is wrong to assume that sufferings of the people will be cured by not taking the route passing through Nagaland (vide The Sangai Express, 7-10-02 issue). The immediate effect of the boycott of NH-39 is that prices of essential commodities are rising rapidly. The poor suffer the most. LPG distributors are no longer in a position to supply LPG to their consumers. Those who want to go to any place outside Manipur are in trouble. It is true that our forefathers could live without depending on others. That age has gone. Today we cannot remain isolated for many reasons. The decision of the UCM to stop plying vehicles through Nagaland does not affect the people of Nagaland but it affects the people of Manipur. If the boycott of NH-39 goes on, the miseries of the people will create hatred amongst the different communities of Manipur which shall weaken the territorial integrity of Manipur. We have to create peace to strengthen the territorial integrity of our beautiful State. It is requested that this important issue may kindly be considered again carefully by all those who advocate boycott of NH-39.Demanding immediate creation of a National Highway Protection Force is necessary, but it will take time for the Government to create such a force. To open many security posts along the NH-39 must be useful, but it must be remembered that the armed miscreants can move to any place to loot trucks and buses. Therefore the people have to be united to stop looting and harassing the passengers on the National Highways. The All Manipur Christian Organization (AMCO) and the NGOs can play a very important role in extending cooperation to the Government to ensure that the National Highways are safe for everyone. The Chief Minister and the Director General of Police may kindly contact their counterparts in Nagaland as often as necessary to prevent the miscreants from committing crimes on the NH-39. Nagaland is our neighbor, and we have to maintain good relation with the people and the Government of Nagaland. It is the will of God that we have to pass through Nagaland to go to other States. He who does not want to maintain good relation with his neighbor is a proud man. The following Bible verses are quoted to show that God is against anyone who is proud, ‘Behold I come against thee, O proud one, saith the Lord, the God of hosts: for thy day is come, the time of thy visitation. And the proud one shall fall, he shall fall down and there shall be none to lift him up; and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him’ (Jeremiah 50:31-32).