The recent peace-talks in Delhi between the Union Government and the NSCN (IM) once again saw passions running high in Manipur over the latter’s demand for Naga integration. The State sent an all-party delegation led by the Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh, to Delhi to ascertain the center’s stand on the issue and protest against any possible attempts to break up the State’s territory to appease the NSCN (IM). Several political parties in the State, units of national parties, and political pressure groups have threatened to go underground if the State’s territorial integrity was compromised. Besides, the Kukis, the other major ethnic community in the State inhabiting the hill districts with the Nagas, also reiterated their opposition to the NSCN (IM) demands on the grounds that the areas demanded include sizeable chunks of Kuki population and territories. Apprehensions remain high in the State with contradictory statements being made by Ibobi Singh and Th. Muivah, General Secretary of NSCN (IM), on the reported assurances they got from the Prime Minister on this issue.

Considering that Manipur stands to lose about two-fifths of its territory if the NSCN (IM)’s demand is conceded, and that the Kukis will find themselves under the political authority of the NSCN (IM), the same group which unleashed a genocidal ethnic cleansing drive against them between 1992 and 1996, the protests were expected. One of the possible reasons behind the failure of the talks in Delhi to achieve any breakthrough is the Union Government’s dilemma over this issue.

While much fuss is made about preserving Manipur’s integrity, no worthwhile efforts are being made to address the deteriorating socio-political, economic, cultural and emotional integrity of the state. Diversion of hill development funds, concentration of beneficial and infrastructural facilities to the valley, deprivation of a fair share of employment opportunities, attempted imposition of the majority language (surreptitious plans to make it compulsory for tribal students to clear Manipuri as a Major Indian Language (MIL) in various examinations conducted by the UPSC and the State PSC, for instance) are some examples of the sources of discord which are threatening its integrity.

These factors presaging disintegration are augmented by utter misgovernance, evident in the widespread prevalence of corruption, nepotism and clientelism. The fact that Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), an armed insurgent group, recently abducted several officials of the Education Department and threatened to eliminate them on charges of corruption, and that the officials admitted being guilty and asked for their pardon, is illustrative of the degeneration of governance in the State. That it took an anti-government outfit to expose the corruption within the State administration highlights the lack of accountability and also the collusion of the administrative hierarchy. Deterrent action taken on such admitted cases of corruption remains to be seen.

The State government and the people, especially the majority community, should remedy these internal sources of threats to the State’s integrity. The Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh, has recently urged the majority community to act responsibly, citing a small incident involving a football match in the capital where foul language was used against a team from a hill district, saying such derogatory epithets on communal lines should be avoided in future. A small but significant beginning, the intent of such statements can do a lot more good to the integrity, territorial or otherwise, of the State than emotive outbursts of the kind witnessed in June 2001 when protests against territorial extension of the ceasefire between the center and the NSCN (IM) resulted in the death of 13 persons.

Extending this good intent to the spheres of government and administration would be even more effective. Autonomous hill districts, wherein the hill communities could manage their own affairs, and undertake a crackdown on corruption, for example, would go a long way to curbing degeneration in the State on every front. Besides, equality of opportunity, mutual respect and issue-based politics addressing development and progress should be promoted, redeeming the State from its unending insurgency, territorial insecurity and fragile ethnic relations.

Thus, unless firm resolve and bold steps are taken by the State government to promote these non-territorial components of integrity, this threat will remain unresolved. Perpetual conflict and discord could grow and pose a threat to the security of the country as a whole, which needs to be avoided. More importantly, the issue of discord which acts against the integrity in the State might have relevance also at the national level. Lack of integrity is detrimental to security, progress, development and above all, to peace.