The Manipur
tribals including Manipur Nagas have been
living with their valley based Meitei brothers
for the last so many centuries. The brethren
relationship between Tribals and Meiteis has
been strained as Tribals are denied of their
constitutional rights by their Meitei
brothers. Thus, to let tribals live in a
separate State (other than Manipur State) is
eminent.
If the two brothers of a family do not
understand their basic needs and requirements
of each other for harmonious and healthy
family, they are to live in separate houses as
good neighbors. A good neighbor is preferable
to brothers of an unsound family. In the past
decades facilities and constitutional rights
of tribals relating to health care, schooling,
employment, autonomy, local self government
etc. etc. have been subdued/deprived of by the
majority community.
The
developmental works in the hill areas are like
a young sapling under shady and thorny forest.
The resolution claimed to have been passed in
the name of All Political Parties on 22nd
October, 2005 for maintaining status quo
pertaining to delimitation of the Assembly
Constituencies is an ample example of
depriving of the Constitutional Rights against
Tribals of Manipur by their Meitei brothers.
It may be recalled that the Delimitation
Commission of India on the basis of General
Census of India - 2001 deemed fit for fresh
realignment of Manipur Legislative Assembly
Seats. To this effect some increases and
decreases of Assembly seats in nine districts
of Manipur were inevitable. As per findings of
Election Delimitation Commission of India, the
Senapati district could gain three more seats,
Ukhrul and Chandel districts one each while in
valley districts, Imphal West lost two, Imphal
East, Bishnupur and Thoubal one each. This
proposal of Delimitation Commission has been
worked out on the basis of population cum
voters of the Assembly Constituencies not on
the basis of hill and valley districts.
The motive of All Political Party Meeting held
on 22nd October, 2005 is to deprive the rights
of equal representation and discrimination
against tribals.
The official voter list of 2005 has shown
unscrupulous difference of voters between
valley Assembly Constituencies and hill
Assembly Constituencies as tabulated hereunder
at Annexure - A & B.
It is also pertinent to point out that as per
Census of India - 2001 ratios of populations
to respective Assembly Constituencies are not
uniformed as per tabulation given at Annexure
- C and as such a fresh realignment of
Assembly Constituencies is highly warranted
for the end of justice and communal harmony in
the state.
In case Meitei brothers are resorting to their
motive for non-fresh realignment of Assembly
Constituencies, their day to day propagation
for Manipur territory integrity is a big lie
and the movement of Manipur Nagas for Naga
integration with Nagas of other States is
fully justified and to attain the same.
Now the ball is in the hands of Meitei
politicians whether they want to
fragment/disintegrate the territory of Manipur
or not. Meitei brothers require presence of
tribals but deny their facilities. The tribals
cannot live with Meiteis as servant and
master. It is time for the valley politicians
to think carefully before it is too late.
*** The writer is a former president of
United Naga Council |
