‘How Manipur govt. sidelines Nagas in Manipur’

Dimapur, June 2 (MExN): An organization, Naga Youth Front, today issued a statement highlighting the deep-rooted bitterness and grievance of Naga communities over the decades suffered in the hands of the Manipur government. The organization said that the confrontational action of Manipur government to create "another intentional war like situation in Ukhrul," will be confronted at any cost.  One startling detail in the NYF's statement was the murder of Inspector General of Police, Thangthaum Paite, IPS, a tribal, to pave way for a Meitei officer for the DGP post. Even former Governor Ved Verma had mentioned this to the Times of India over this, the NYF said.
"Tribal Inspector General of Police, Mr. Thangthaum Paite IPS, was murdered to pave way for a Meitei officer for the DGP post, in reference of which even Mr. Ved Verma, former Governor of Manipur wrote in the Times of India that in Manipur state, junior police officers can kill senior officers," the NYF said.  
The NYF highlighted its anger in the background of stated arrest warrants issued to some Naga leaders recently. "The arrest warrant issued to nine leaders of Tangkhul mass based organizations directly from Mr. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister, is nothing but to create another intentional war like situation in Ukhrul by the communal Government of Manipur. This kind of continuous confrontational approach will not cow down the Naga spirit and their dignity as free people," the NYF stated in a note today. The organization said "we have severed our ties with the communal Government of Manipur. We have made it clear and loud that we are different now. We are for alternative arrangement." For this reason any aggression 'either in the psychological or physical form' will be confronted in any cost, the NYF.
"We have our own land and we don't need your sympathy or empathy for we are a people who can stand by ourselves. Sorry Ibobi you are on wrong footing," the note said.  
The NYF highlighted grievances that pointed to how the Manipur government and the society treat the Nagas: 12% deduction as contingency from the Hill Areas development fund routed to all valley-based underground groups; development work meant for the hill areas obtained from ministers by Meitei underground to tribal people; Rs. 1000 crore 'poured into only Imphal valley and no single paisa to the hill areas when National Game was hosted; Rs. 300 crore sanctioned by Union Ministry for the Ukhrul-Tadubi road, which Ibobi and work Minister Ranjit diverted to their constituency; division into 20 work orders for the Imphal-Tamenglong road of which the chief minister and his Work Minister reserved eight sections for their brothers and family members and rest to 3 local MLAs. "The final payment has already been made. But the big question is- is it motor able now?" the NYF stated on this
The NYF said 80% of Manipur's state government service sector is Meiteis and only 20% are tribal. 100 % electrification, blacktopped roads, telecommunication connectivity, safe drinking water, health care, education, so on and so forth – all in place in the Imphal valley. "But the tribal areas in Hills remain blacked out in all fields," NYF stated.
Further, it was informed that in entire Manipur University there are only two tribal lecturers and only 7.5% seat is allotted to the tribal, for higher studies and post-creation; there are only IV grade posts such as Sweeper given in Manipur University to tribal to cover up for the 7.5% reserved quota.  Even in the police department, the antagonism of the Meitei exists, if the NYF statement is to be considered. "Tribal Inspector General of Police, Mr. Thangthaum Paite IPS, was murdered to pave way for a Meitei officer for the DGP post, in reference of which even Mr. Ved Verma, former Governor of Manipur wrote in the Times of India that in Manipur state, junior police officers can kill senior Officer," the NYF said.  All together three Meiteis who are not even IPS have been made DGP; now one junior Meitei IPS is made DGP superseding senior tribal IPS officer (a tribal) who is now posted as OSD "with one table and chair in small room".
'In the recent recruitment of teachers under the district councils of the hills, 552 posts out of 1600 reserved vacant posts have been given to Meiteis; Manipur government has deputed a Tribal Welfare Office (reserved for scheduled caste and scheduled tribes only) who is not a tribal but a Meitei one Rajendro in the rank of deputy director;  "The State Bank of India (SBI) was disallowed to open its branches through a letter by Chief Secretary, Govt. of Manipur stating that security will not be provided by the state even when the Reserve Bank of India had granted permission for opening of SBI branches in Ukhrul and Tamenglong," the NYF stated.
"Misusing Doordarshan, FM channel and AIR to impose only Manipuri language on the entire population for most of the transmission time whereas Tribal are given slots long enough for just a song."  The NYF stated. "The Naga are clear about our 70 years of struggle with blood and tears, which has cost us thousands of lives, women maimed, houses and granaries burned, put in concentration camp etc. The movement is not about hating Meiteis or threat to co-existence or uprooting the Nagas homeland in the present state of Manipur and planting somewhere be it in Nagaland state, Assam or Eastern Nagaland. It is about our inherent right as a people to live together with dignity as much as other people around the world."