As the fall out of Union Government led by Congress party agreeing to create Telangana state, there is hue and cry for creation of more states in different parts of the country. Can India afford to have 50 states in the same pattern US is having. Former UP Chief Minister Mayawati demanded bifurcation of her state in to four, which can ensure delivery of administration in every nook and corner of the state. Manipur has only eight district and one sadar hills district. Even in such a small state like ours there is public complain about absence of governance in the remote and interior areas. They say everything has been centralised, nothing can be done without the approval of the highest executive of the state. Even tree plantation needs to be approved by the higher level, they say. Roads are not constructed unless it is inspected by people’s representatives. Engineers cannot identify the spot for placing culverts. But the demand for creation of state on communal line cannot be accepted. Manipur cannot be fragmented. The demand for creation of Kuki state carved out of tiny Manipur sounds unreasonable. Kuki statehood committee leaders are advised to drop the demand. The energy and time spent in making a demand, which will never materialise can be used in making the demand for promotion of arts and culture and language of the community. More needs to be done to scale higher level. If Manipuris died for protection of territorial integrity of the state they will do the same when the forces detrimental to the well being of the state make plan to divide the state. That is a warning. Every political party be it ruling or opposition had pledged in the past to protect the boundary of the state. That promise cannot be shattered. But it remains to be seen whether the Union Government will think of making Karbianglon in Assam and Darjeeling in West Bengal separate states. No separate state however is formed owing to pressure from the agitationists. Telanggana is different. Congress cannot shirk the duty of fulfilling the aspirations of millions of people living in Telanggana region. This however does not mean all the demands made for creation for separate states will be fulfilled by the ruling party at the centre.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/demand-for-separate-states/
