The Plight of Manipur

A delegation of intellectuals and prominent citizens from Manipur, led by Col(retd) H Bhuban Singh (former state minister and member of state Public Service Commission), Col (retd) Lokendra Singh, Mr Premananda Sharma (journalist), Bhavananda Singh, Salam Rupachandra and Amrik Singh Phawa visited the VIF and had an intensive interaction with the Director, selected Distinguished Fellows and other members of the VIF.They highlighted the intense suffering of the people of Manipur who are reeling under an economic blockade that has been continuing now for 42 days.This amounts to a virtual seige of the state. Rice is selling at an astronomical Rs 200 per Kg, petrol at over Rs 200 a litre and a gas cylinder sells for Rs 1200-Rs 2000.There are no life saving drugs in hospitals or any Oxygen cylinders.There was a similar seige of the Kashmir valley in 2008 and the entire national and international media was up in arms. The outcry then was strident. No one seems to have a tear to shed for Manipur. The plight of the people of that state is heartrending but no one seems to be listening.The VIF fraternity expressed its solidarity with the people of Manipur and assured the delegation of our unstinted support.