A mixed bag during BJP’s debut run
HITS
End of blockade: One of Manipur’s longest economic blockades on two arterial highways imposed by United Naga Council was lifted on April 19, four days after BJP-led coalition was sworn in. It showed improvement of relations between hill and valley dwellers Burial of 8 bodies: Eight bodies of ‘martyrs’ of a movement against ‘anti-tribal’ bills, lying in Churachandpur hospital morgue for more than 600 days, were buried on March 25. This ended a bitter battle between the government and tribal organisations Nagaland-Manipur bonhomie:
Nagaland chief minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu’s visit to Imphal on May 9 on his Manipur counterpart Biren’s invitation was seen as historic in the backdrop of a prolonged conflict between Nagas and Manipuris Meeting the people: Unlike his predecessors, Biren has fixed two days a month to meet common people at the CM’s secretariat. The 10th of every month is for meeting people from the hill districts and the 15th for those from the plains of Manipur Anti-corruption cell: On March 24, the Manipur Cabinet decided to set up an anti-corruption cell, and within a month it received 400 complaints. This cell at the CM’s office helps people lodge complaints against graft
MISSES
Irom Roger case: A road rage case, in which Biren’s son Ajay had killed Irom Roger in 2011, returned to haunt the CM. Ajay was given a five-year sentence in January this year, but Roger’s parents and their lawyer alleged harassment PDS items: The BJP-led government has been facing criticism for failing to resolve a crisis in remote areas owing to the failure in allotting essential commodities under public distribution system Infrastructure of new districts: Seven
new districts that the Congress government created in December last year continue to be nebulous. The districts do not have the necessary infrastructure and their boundaries continue to be vague Power crisis: Manipur has for long suffered from erratic power supply, more so in the hill districts. Promises to address this issue have not become a reality. The situation appears to have worsened in many areas Flood problem: Manipur is natural disaster-prone, and the BJP-led government faced one of the worst flood scenarios two months after coming to power. Poor drainage system and controversial dams are adding to the government’s problems