Finally, the 40 MLAs of Manipur seem to have found peace nowadays. Nobody has been hounding them at their official residences and private homes pressuring them to go to New Delhi and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, convince him to find a solution or way-out from the mess that the state is facing now. Earlier, groups of women like Meira Paibi or youths used to come every now and then.
Since the ethnic clashes started newer groups have come up with varying demands to the despair of these MLAs. Even their own constituents have started questioning them on what they are doing. But now, all seems peaceful. No Meira Paibi or groups of youth are asking them to camp in New Delhi and not return till a tangible solution is brought.
New Delhi used to be a safe haven and escape for many of the MLAs previously, but with the ethnic clashes descending they are frightened of going there. Why should not they be afraid as Prime Minister Narendra Modi never gives them or any of the delegations from Manipur an audience, not to talk of other political parties or civil society groups but even the MLA delegation from their own party and allies. They had to be content with meeting the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and in that too, the Home Minister does not give anything new except for the age-old assurance of Manipur’s territorial integrity and nothing else. He does not talk about how to settle the never-ending threat to Manipur’s territorial integrity once for all; rounding up of the armed immigrant infiltrators from Myanmar and sending them back or tightening the border patrol to ward off further infiltration; how to neutralise the writ of powerful drug lords within the territory of India more particularly Manipur; and a broad based mechanism to upend the threat of evergreen economic blockades on the national highways.
However difficult and complex these issues are, one of the main worries among the 40 MLAs had been sleepless nights and restless days uncertain of what may come next. They are seen attending government functions and as a part of the entourage when the chief minister or some other minister visits a project site or development work, and it looks like all is well. Yet, there are no smiles on their faces in the photos posted in the social media which makes everyone feel something is not right.
The MLAs are rarely seen venturing out of their homes and mixing with their constituents, listening to the mundane grievances. Well, some disgruntled MLAs are still camping in New Delhi bidding their time. Except for the routine Congress party press conferences and veteran politicians, nobody is really looking at the 40 MLAs. Is it because people have grown tired of them or relevance has outlived their political careers. It is in the political grapevine that some of the MLAs have begun looking for escape in other parties, as they seem to feel unsure and uncertain of their fate in the next elections. After all, personal survival is of utmost importance in their mind and parties are just vehicles which could be replaced.
(The views expressed are personal)
