Displaced folks and call to return home A call out to the elected MLAs

The focus of the MLAs, particularly the BJP MLAs, must be clear. The focus should and must be on how to take up steps to ensure that the internally displaced persons can return to the place they once called home. It however is not clear whether their eyes are set on the right target or not and so far there is nothing to indicate that the BJP MLAs have come together to chart out something of a roadmap to help the displaced folks return home. Why is there no information of the BJP MLAs putting their minds together to see what steps may be taken up towards this end ? It is true that Manipur is under President’s Rule, but the Assembly has not been dissolved and the MLAs continue to be representatives of the people. Isn’t this the time for them to be sharing thoughts, opinions and working out ways so that the displaced folks can at least go back to their homes ? Or is this asking for too much ? The answer could lie anywhere, but the MLAs cannot and should not lose sight of where their priorities should lie. The first task is obviously to see how Manipur can start walking the path of normalcy and creating an atmosphere wherein the displaced folks can return home is certainly one of the steps to be taken up in the march towards normalcy. The situation calls for the MLAs to think out of the box and see how the displaced folks can return home and for this they would need to pool their thoughts together. This is what Manipur needs at the moment, but so far what the people have seen do not amount to anything towards this end and the last time the MLAs made a beeline for Delhi to meet Central leadership did not have anything to do with resettling the displaced people, but was all about the need for a popular Government. Supposing Delhi decides to pave the way for the return of the popular Government, would it take Manipur anywhere nearer the understanding of normalcy ? Would it help in any way in smoothening the process of letting the displaced folks return home ? No answer is expected from the people who matter but raising this point is important for in as much as the demand to let the IDPs return home should be raised to the PR administration and Delhi, the elected members of the House too have a bounden duty to see what steps ought to be taken. Suspended animation, this is the status of the State Assembly at the moment, but this should not be taken to mean that the MLAs cannot get together, share ideas and thoughts and see how they can contribute in the rehabilitation of the displaced people.
A look back at the just concluded Sangai Festival should be more than indicative that normalcy is still a far cry away. The strong response to the call to boycott the festival  should help list the priorities of the people and this should have more than served as a reminder that the elected representatives still have a lot to do. Imposition of PR should not mean that the elected representatives are no longer responsible for the people. This is also the time for all the MLAs, cutting across party affiliation, to come together and discuss ways on how to  break the stalemate and help take Manipur to the path of normalcy. The prime responsibility lies with Raj Bhavan and Delhi, but yet at the same time, the elected MLAs too need to show that they are there for the people. Violence erupted at Churachandpur on May 3, 2023 and the Government at Imphal was led by the BJP. The killings happened while the popularly elected Government was in place. Thousands were displaced when a BJP led Government was in power at Imphal. PR came only on February 13 this year and while the elected MLAs have started making noise to effect the return of a popular Government not a line of suggestion has come to help settle the issue and create an atmosphere wherein the displaced folks can return home. The failure of the political leadership is just too unpalatable. Whether there is a popularly elected Government in place or not, the fact is they are still MLAs. And political leaders can be there whether the State Assembly is functioning or not. The state of the displaced people is a call to the conscience of the elected personalities and the one line suggestion to them is, ‘Get your priorities right.’