The longest and, perhaps, the most profound public movement ever, referred to as 123 days agitation, from July 1 to October 31 in 2011, the Sadar hills issue rendered the population of Manipur, both valley and hills in a strangle like situation. The issue ended with the signing of an MoU between the State Government and SHDDC leaders in the midnight of October 31, 2011 at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Imphal.
The Sadar Hills movement is likely to take place once again with the Kuki Inpi, Sadar Hills calling for a public meeting on the issue of Gamnom-Sapormeina on September 15.
Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills General Secretary, N Sehjalien, said that after more than four decades of public movement on Sadar Hills districthood issue, the Kuki Inpi, Sadar Hills – House of the Kukis- has called a crucial public meeting on the issue of Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council, Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Act 1971 (Parliament Act No.76 of 1971, 26 December, 1971).
The Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills articulated the people’s unhappiness against Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who vowed to declare Sadar Hills as a full-fledged district within 6 months after the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly. But the CM has failed to translate his promise into reality even after 3 years approximately.
The Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills has, therefore, called the public meeting to discuss on the issue of complete implementation of Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Act, 1971, N Sehjalien asserted.
According to Kuki Inpi, Sadar Hills General Secretary, apart from Ministers, MLAs, MDCs and former leaders of Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee, leaders of block-wise Kuki Inpi, SAHILCA, Kuki Women Union Sadar Hills, Area-wise Chief Associations, Kuki Students’ Organization Sadar Hills, TSA Sadar Hills, TTC Sadar Hills, KOHR and various other social workers would be attending the said meeting.
Some noted writers have pigeonholed Sadar Hills Movements so far into two phases - the movement that covered the period from 1971 to 2010 as the First Phase and the movement that occurred in the year 2011, also described as ‘Public Movement’ in view of the mass response and participation, as the second phase. Any further movement after the public meeting on September 15, would be the third phase of Sadar Hills movement in Manipur.
Seikhomang Khongsai, President of Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, asserted that the MoU signed between the State Government and the SHDDC leaders only suspended the agitation.
The movement for Sadar Hills, however, was kept alive. The sacrifices and sufferings of the people of Sadar Hills, therefore, in pursuit of their goal to attain justice, political autonomy, administrative power and economic development would not go in vain, pointed out the KISH Chief. He further asserted that autonomy of the Sadar Hills would consolidate the integrity of Manipur while prolonged delay in resolving the issue would only create a radical political change in Manipur and would remain a political blunder for the authority concerned.
In 1971, during the process for granting Statehood to Manipur, the Government of India promulgated an Act of Parliament, called Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Act, 1971 (vide Section 4 of Sub-Section 3, Bill No. 76 of 26/12/1971) for safeguarding the hill areas and protection of the tribals in Manipur, Seikhomang Khongsai said adding that the Act provided for the creation of 6 Autonomous District Councils in the hill areas of Manipur for ultimate conversion of the State into a full-fledged district, viz., Manipur North Autonomous District (Senapati), Sadar Hills Autonomous District (Sadar Hills), Manipur East Autonomous District (Ukhrul), Tengnoupal Autonomous District (Chandel), Manipur South Autonomous District (Churachandpur) and Manipur West Autonomous District (Tamenglong).
A notification was, thus, issued by SM Krishnatry, the then Chief Secretary to the Government of Manipur (vide No. 28/1/71 of dated 14/02/1972). Subsequently, Manipur attained Statehood in 1972 under Article 371-C of the Constitution of India. And, out of the six said autonomous councils five of them were given full-fledged district status, with the exception of Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council. The district continues to be under the North District of Manipur awaiting to be declared a full-fledged district even though it has a fully functional ADC since 1971, the KISH supremo pointed out.
A thing is worth if granted to when demanded; rubbish as useless debris when no more desired or solicited, quoted the supremo of KISH while adding that in view of the legitimacy and legality of the demand, an amicable solution would be better than repressive measures and indifference in dealing on the part of the Government on the Sadar Hills issue.
Tracing the Sadar Hills movement in 2011 or 123 days of agitation the Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills President said that undoubtedly 2011 Sadar Hills movement was unique in terms of mass response and participation and also the fact that the issue went up to the level of the Union Government, the Prime Minister of India and even the then her Excellency, the President of India.
True in the sense that the 2011 Sadar Hills movement was a failure as Sadar Hills once again failed to attain the goal of districthood while considering the Manipur State Government request to have faith once more in its sincerity to solve and address the issue as well as the tremendous hardship meted out to the people of Manipur, stated the KISH supremo.
This time too if any movement is to be initiated, a competent committee will be formed again to spearhead the movement pointed out the KISH chief while soliciting the presence of all who are concerned with Sadar Hills issue.
Source: The Sangai Express
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