The violence that erupted in Nagaland last week over the issue of 33% reservation for women in the urban local body elections destroyed government property worth several hundred crores. Above all, all documents have been gutted and that is something irretrievable. Chief Minister TR Zeliang soon gave way to the protestors and the situation is slowly getting back to normal. Manipur however had a 3month old economic blockade in protest against the State government’s decision to carve out new districts out of Naga dominated areas which caused great suffering to the people. NH2 connects Manipur with the rest of India. Frequent blockade by protestors on the National Highway leads to shortage of essentials and shoots up prices. A tripartite conference attended by the Manipur government, the United Naga Council and the Centre has produced an accord which ended the blockade.
The problem is that the North eastern states are so preoccupied with the regional problems that they cannot take a holistic view of the imperatives of development. The potential is great but the hindrances are too many. It goes against the complaint that the North-east gets a step motherly attitude from Delhi. Of course, the tribes have the right to preserve their unique identity. But if Manipur wants integration with mainland India, it should opt for sinking of local interests in the larger cause. Economic development is closely linked with law and order and there are legal remedies. Blockades and arson are counter- productive. The North-east is very much part of Narendra Modi’s Act East Policy but internal bickering fomented by insurgency only defeat the purpose.