Days of uncertainty, anxiety: Looks of a besieged city

In many ways, Imphal today looks like a besieged city. Not that it did not look like this earlier, but this particular look has suddenly become all that more ‘visible’ given that tension and uncertainty is eating into everyone’s psyche. So it is that the cops who are out there on duty suddenly looks more prominent and so are the riot shields they carry complete with their helmet and other protective gears. Not surprising given the fact that it was only on October 24 that thousands of womenfolk took to the streets demanding that the ongoing peace talks between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India should not infringe on the interests of Manipur in any way. Such a scene was understandable, given that many were under the impression that this could be the final meeting between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India and in many ways Manipur figures heavily in the scheme of things of the NSCN (IM).  The said scene will continue till October 31, that is for sure and how the look on the streets change will depend solely on the nature of the final pact, given that many are under the impression that the final pact will be inked on the said date. However given the nature of the ongoing peace process, the final pact may not meet the October 31 deadline, in so far as the NSCN (IM) is concerned as reports have already trickled in that another round of talk is likely to be held anyday soon, after the October 24 talks remained inconclusive. No wonder the air is thick with apprehension and this is the reason why the State Government has sent out feelers not to sensationalise any news related to the political dialogue between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India.
Not sure which way the wind will blow in the coming days but what is transparently clear is the fact that the air today is thick with apprehension. This is the reason why the Chief Minister deemed it fit to reach out to Editors and senior scribes not to sensationalise news related to the ongoing political dialogue and not hype anything that could strain the relationship between people belonging to different communities. So acute is the air of apprehension that the condition of parents and elders in the hills and whose children and wards are studying at Imphal can only be imagined. This is where the key board heroes and heroines need to be reined in. Reminds one of the days when the air was thick with tension and apprehension over the addition of the words, ‘ancestral land’ on the centenary memorial stones erected for the Anglo-Kuki War. It was during those days, not long back, that numerous key board heroes and heroines emerged with posts which did nothing except add to the air of suspicion and uncertainty. A similar situation has now returned and this is what is worrying. It is this trend that everyone must be on guard against, for whipping up passion on false premises can be dangerous. Panic buying is another point which should set all to put on their thinking cap. Let the people be on their guard to ensure that the final pact does not harm the interests of the State in any way and yet at the same time let everyone be on guard against hate posts and hate speech which do nothing except add to animosity.