Afspa to job creation in focus as Manipur votes in Phase 1 today

IMPHAL: A total of 38 constituencies spread across five districts are set to go to polls in the first phase of Manipur assembly elections on Monday. The long-standing demand for repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (Afspa) and creations are likely to be the main issues that could decide the mandate.

The Afspa debate

The demand for repealing Afspa, which empowers security forces operating in “disturbed areas” to search, seize, arrest without warrant, and to use firearms on mere suspicion with impunity, has reignited in the insurgency-affected Manipur following the killing of civilians in a botched army ambush in Nagaland in December.

Manipur has been declared a “disturbed area” since September and Afspa remains operational in the state, except in municipal areas of Imphal. Since 2017, the Supreme Court is hearing a plea on 1,528 cases of alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur. In the past five years, nearly 200 more such deaths are suspected to have taken place, claims human rights activists.

“If Afspa is not a poll issue, nothing is an issue. The very fact that BJP hasn’t included it in its manifesto has itself become a big issue,” said Babloo Loitongbam, executive director of Human Rights Alert (HRA). failure to table and pass the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021. Manipur has witnessed lot of political instability since 2017 with MLAS switching sides, resigning from seats or getting disqualified.

ST status for Meiteis

The state’s largest community, Meitei, which comprise 57% of the population, has been demanding scheduled tribe status for many years.

The Meitei votes are significant in 40 seats in Imphal Valley and pivotal to the formation of the next government.

The Meitei community, which is mainly Hindu and got other backward caste (OBC) status in 1991, believes

ST status would help them in getting reservation in jobs and also protect their land in the Imphal Valley, which comprise nearly 8% of the state’s area.

The issue has not found mention in manifestoes of any of the major committees and is being opposed by the state’s 36 tribes, who feel it could affect the interests of these communities residing in the hill areas.

Unemployment

The unemployment rate in Manipur stands at 9.5%, according to union labour ministry data tabled in parliament last year. It is the second highest in the northeast after Nagaland.

“Unemployment is the most dominant issue this time. Many

acrosselection people are affected the state. There have been lot of TV debates and also discussions among the public around the issue of jobs,” said senior journalist Pradip Phanjoubam.

Political instability

Other issues which could play a role include political instability, security issues, scheduled tribe status for Meitei community and the BJP government’s