Should the Sangai Fest be held or not ? Looking at the reality

Should the PR administration go ahead with the proposed State level Sangai Festival or should it take cognizance of the vocal and strenuous voice of opposition raised against going ahead with the festival ? Crucial question this is, for in many ways it would reflect on how Delhi views the reality in Manipur or wants to believe in the tale spun by the silence of the guns and bombs. How about the people ? Where do they stand ? The affected people, that is the people surviving in the different relief centres set up across the length and breadth of the State have had their say, but how about the others ? The others meaning those unaffected and can go back to the place they call home, knowing that a hot meal and a warm bed awaits them when they go back home after work in the evening. Where do they stand ? There is not one single voice with different opinions being floated, with some going ahead and opining that holding the festival can open an earning avenue for the displaced folks. Why not reserve some stalls and selling points for the displaced folks is one line of reasoning that has been floated. If Manipur could celebrate Ningol Chakkouba, Diwali and the crackers and fireworks that come with this festival, if dice games (lagao) could be held at every lanes and bylanes of Imphal, why can’t the State level Sangai Festival be held is another line of argument that has been put forth. Moreover Manipur has already hosted the State level Shirui Lily Festival. So why target the Sangai Festival now, is the question. On the other hand, those against holding the festival come out with the explanation that holding Ningol Chakkouba, the dice games etc were held at the individual level and not at the State level. Why should the State Government organise a festival when thousands are still languishing in different relief centres and the National Highways are still not opened to all section of the people ? How can there be a State level festival when buffer zones continue to criss-cross the length and breadth of the State ? As for the Shirui Lily Festival it was held at Ukhrul, a place which has not been affected by the ongoing ethnic strife, is another line that has been put forward. Moreover many also hold the view that the PR administration is intent on holding the Sangai Festival to weave the false propaganda that normalcy has returned to Manipur. This would be a lie, best exemplified by the huge hike in airfares, a result of the growing demand for flights whenever one needs to step out of Manipur. Should the Sangai Festival be held in such a climate of apprehension and uncertainty is the question that has been put forward.
The voice of opposition should be seen beyond the call to boycott the Sangai Festival, for it is a telling commentary on the utter failure of New Delhi to resolve the stand off which erupted in all its ugliness on May 3, 2023. The co-relation between the failure to open the National Highways and ensure free movement of everyone and the steep hike in airfare, especially between Imphal and Gauhati, should be seen beyond ‘dynamic pricing’ and look at the reality, a reality which says that everyone is constrained to fly and not take the road route. Why hasn’t Delhi been able to open the highway is a question for which no straight has been coming and it wouldn’t come. And in such a situation, it is not surprising why conspiracy theories should do the round and which has managed to convince many. Not at all good for a place which has been reeling for over 30 months. The dots that connect the debate or argument over the coming Sangai Festival and the steep rise in airfare on the Imphal to Gauhati sector can be seen when viewed against the backdrop of the utter failure of Delhi to ensure the free movement of everyone on the National Highways and there can be no arguments over this. And it is amid this reality that voices have been raised from some quarters for the return of the popular Government. No one knows how Delhi would respond to the call to restore the popularly elected Government, and this is where it is interesting to explore the question of how a popular Government would have responded to the unfolding scenario over the question of holding the Sangai Festival. And it goes without saying that any answer to this question will have to be seen against the backdrop of the reality, a reality in which thousands are still in relief centres.