The Supreme Court today said that it was &quot;not satisfied&quot; with the progress made by the CBI&#39;s SIT in the investigation into alleged extra-judicial killings and fake encounters by the Army, Assam Rifles and police in Manipur.

The apex court made the remarks after the special investigation team (SIT) apprised it that 42 cases have so far been registered on such killings.

A bench comprising Justices M B Lokur and U U Lalit also directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to depute three persons to associate with the SIT to carry out investigation in 17 out of the 42 cases.

&quot;We are not satisfied by the progress made by the SIT,&quot; the bench said.

&quot;We make it clear that the association of the NHRC is for the time being in respect of these 17 cases,&quot; it added.

The bench also expressed its displeasure that the status report filed by the SIT did not appear to have the approval of the CBI&#39;s Director.

The top court made it clear that the next status report of the SIT must have the approval of the CBI chief.

The court has posted the matter for further hearing on March 12.

The apex court had on January 16 pulled up the CBI&#39;s SIT for not registering the required number of FIRs as directed by it earlier.

The apex court is hearing a PIL seeking probe into as many as 1,528 cases of extra-judicial killings in Manipur.

The court had on July 14 last year constituted the SIT comprising five CBI officers and ordered registration of FIRs and probe into the alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur.

The apex court made the remarks after the special investigation team (SIT) apprised it that 42 cases have so far been registered on such killings

The Supreme Court today said that it was "not satisfied" with the progress made by the CBI's SIT in the investigation into alleged extra-judicial killings and fake encounters by the Army, Assam Rifles and police in Manipur. The apex court made the remarks after the special investigation team (SIT) apprised it that 42 cases have so far been registered on such killings. A bench comprising Justices M B Lokur and U U Lalit also directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to depute three persons to associate with the SIT to carry out investigation in 17 out of the 42 cases. "We are not satisfied by the progress made by the SIT," the bench said. "We make it clear that the association of the NHRC is for the time being in respect of these 17 cases," it added. The bench also expressed its displeasure that the status report filed by the SIT did not appear to have the approval of the CBI's Director. The top court made it clear that the next status report of the SIT must have the approval of the CBI chief. The court has posted the matter for further hearing on March 12. The apex court had on January 16 pulled up the CBI's SIT for not registering the required number of FIRs as directed by it earlier. The apex court is hearing a PIL seeking probe into as many as 1,528 cases of extra-judicial killings in Manipur. The court had on July 14 last year constituted the SIT comprising five CBI officers and ordered registration of FIRs and probe into the alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur.

SC 'not satisfied' with CBI's SIT probe into Manipur fake encounters

Nine personnel got injured in a couple of blasts that occurred inside Assam RIfles Transit Camp in Imphal west of Manipur on Tuesday evening.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Manipur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Manipur</a> Two blasts occur inside Assam Rifles Transit Camp near Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal West; Four security personnel injured in the blast.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/960870437306716160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The injured were taken to the nearest hospital.

There are no reports of any deaths so far.

Further details are awaited.

The injured personnel were taken to the nearest hospital

Nine personnel got injured in a couple of blasts that occurred inside Assam RIfles Transit Camp in Imphal west of Manipur on Tuesday evening. #Manipur Two blasts occur inside Assam Rifles Transit Camp near Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal West; Four security personnel injured in the blast. — ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2018 × The injured were taken to the nearest hospital. There are no reports of any deaths so far. Further details are awaited.

Manipur: 9 injured in blasts inside Assam Rifles Transit Camp

An earthquake measuring 5.5 of magnitude struck Imphal, capital of Manipur, on Sunday.

The tremors were felt in afternoon around 12 PM.

There were no reports of any casualties or damages to properties.&nbsp;

In January 2016, 6.7 magnitudes of the earthquake hit Manipur leaving 200 people injured and at least 11 people dead.

The tremors of that earthquake were felt even in Bangladesh, making it one of the damaging earthquake of Manipur.

That tremors were felt in afternoon around 12 PM

An earthquake measuring 5.5 of magnitude struck Imphal, capital of Manipur, on Sunday. The tremors were felt in afternoon around 12 PM. There were no reports of any casualties or damages to properties. In January 2016, 6.7 magnitudes of the earthquake hit Manipur leaving 200 people injured and at least 11 people dead. The tremors of that earthquake were felt even in Bangladesh, making it one of the damaging earthquake of Manipur.

Earthquake of 5.5 magnitude hits Manipur, no casualties reported

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has cited reports indicating that a radical outfit has been trying to expand its network in regions of Assam and Manipur.&nbsp;

He said some areas of the northeast are vulnerable to radicalisation and accessible to jihadist and terrorist&nbsp;activities from across the border.&nbsp;

He replied the answer to a written question.&nbsp;

He said that the security and intelligence agencies were aware of the threat of radicalisation in the area and were taking measures to counter it. He added that such radical activities were being closely monitored. 
&nbsp;

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Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has cited reports indicating that a radical outfit has been trying to expand its network in regions of Assam and Manipur

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has cited reports indicating that a radical outfit has been trying to expand its network in regions of Assam and Manipur. He said some areas of the northeast are vulnerable to radicalisation and accessible to jihadist and terrorist activities from across the border. He replied the answer to a written question. He said that the security and intelligence agencies were aware of the threat of radicalisation in the area and were taking measures to counter it. He added that such radical activities were being closely monitored.

Areas of Assam-Manipur prone to radicalisation: Government

Terrorists ambushed 4 Assam Regiment in Manipur on Monday.

The incident occurred in Chandel&#39;s Sajik Tampak area.

One terrorist was killed in the encounter with two Army personnel injured.

Firing is still underway.

One terrorist was killed in the encounter with two Army personnel injured.

Terrorists ambushed 4 Assam Regiment in Manipur on Monday. The incident occurred in Chandel's Sajik Tampak area. One terrorist was killed in the encounter with two Army personnel injured. Firing is still underway.

Terrorists ambush Assam Regiment soldiers in Manipur

Iconic human rights activist <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/who-is-irom-4556">Irom Chanu Sharmila </a>married her long-time partner Desmond Coutinho in Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s Kodaikanal today.&nbsp;

44-year old Sharmila rose to fame after she went on a hunger strike on November 4, 2000 demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 from the state of Manipur. The hunger strike lasted 16 years.

Also called the &ldquo;Iron Lady&rdquo;, she broke her fast on August 9, 2016 and declared she would form her political party and stand in the Manipur state assembly elections so that she could repeal AFSPA. &nbsp;

Sharmila moved to Kodaikanal with British citizen Coutinho after her party, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-irom-sharmilas-prja-party-takes-crowdfunding-route-to-raise-funds-for-manipur-elections-11350">Peoples&rsquo; Resurgence and Justice Alliance </a>(PRJA), suffered defeat in the elections.

The wedding, a simple affair, was registered under the Special Marriage Act and was held in the presence of a sub-registrar.&nbsp;

The wedding was objected to by local activist, V Mahendran, who contended that if the couple stayed in the hills, tribals in the area would face law and order problems.

The sub-registrar had rejected Mahendran&rsquo;s objection.&nbsp;

The wedding, a simple affair, was registered under the Special Marriage Act and was held in the presence of a sub-registrar

Iconic human rights activist Irom Chanu Sharmila married her long-time partner Desmond Coutinho in Tamil Nadu’s Kodaikanal today. 44-year old Sharmila rose to fame after she went on a hunger strike on November 4, 2000 demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 from the state of Manipur. The hunger strike lasted 16 years. Also called the “Iron Lady”, she broke her fast on August 9, 2016 and declared she would form her political party and stand in the Manipur state assembly elections so that she could repeal AFSPA. Sharmila moved to Kodaikanal with British citizen Coutinho after her party, Peoples’ Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA), suffered defeat in the elections. The wedding, a simple affair, was registered under the Special Marriage Act and was held in the presence of a sub-registrar. The wedding was objected to by local activist, V Mahendran, who contended that if the couple stayed in the hills, tribals in the area would face law and order problems. The sub-registrar had rejected Mahendran’s objection.

Irom Sharmila marries long-time partner Desmond Coutinho in Kodaikanal

One look at this market in the heart of Imphal, the capital of the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur, and you would know that it&rsquo;s a one-of-a-kind place. As a shopper at Asia&rsquo;s largest all-women market, you will be greeted by colourfully-draped women in their phaneks and innaphis (traditional wear) every morning.&nbsp;

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This is the world&#39;s largest all-women market (Twitter)
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There are more than 5,000 stalls in the market that are owned and operated by women exclusively. The market called Ima Keithal, meaning &lsquo;Mother&rsquo;s Market&rsquo; has a history of 500 years. Scholars believe that the market has existed since the 16th century. Interestingly, only married women are allowed to trade and run the stalls. The tradition is passed on from one generation to the next. These women pay around ?40 per month for their shops, which deal in ethnic handlooms, handicrafts and locally produced goods. The women traders also have a union that manages the market and runs a credit system. The women can borrow money to purchase goods and pay it back to the union later.

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Women selling traditional wear (Twitter)
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Serving as a trading hub and an important meeting ground, the market prides itself on being women-friendly in more than one way. According to studies, the market&rsquo;s female-only workforce is a result of an ancient forced labour system in the region. Called Lallup-Kaba, the tradition saw men of the Meitei community being sent away to cultivate lands and fight wars. In the meanwhile, the women stayed back and worked in their paddy fields, took care of households and sold the farm produce in nearby markets. As a result, markets with women selling their home-produce grew as a concept, and thus Ima Keithal was born.&nbsp;

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Ima Keithal, an all-women market in India (Twitter)
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Going back in history, these women also fought against British colonial rule. In one particular case, women of the region stood up against Nupi Lan (Women&rsquo;s War) that forced them to export large amounts of locally grown rice to British battalions in the country. Women traders of Ima Keithel came out together against this regressive move as this market was seen as a symbol for their cultural identity.&nbsp;

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The market has an all-female workforce (Twitter)
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Ima Keithal&rsquo;s women play an important role in Imphal&rsquo;s local economy and has progressed from just being a market, to one that is globally recognised as a movement for liberty, equality and women&rsquo;s rights.

 
&nbsp;

Going back 500 years, the Ima Keithal market is found in the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur

One look at this market in the heart of Imphal, the capital of the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur, and you would know that it’s a one-of-a-kind place. As a shopper at Asia’s largest all-women market, you will be greeted by colourfully-draped women in their phaneks and innaphis (traditional wear) every morning. This is the world's largest all-women market (Twitter) × There are more than 5,000 stalls in the market that are owned and operated by women exclusively. The market called Ima Keithal, meaning ‘Mother’s Market’ has a history of 500 years. Scholars believe that the market has existed since the 16th century. Interestingly, only married women are allowed to trade and run the stalls. The tradition is passed on from one generation to the next. These women pay around ?40 per month for their shops, which deal in ethnic handlooms, handicrafts and locally produced goods. The women traders also have a union that manages the market and runs a credit system. The women can borrow money to purchase goods and pay it back to the union later. Women selling traditional wear (Twitter) × Serving as a trading hub and an important meeting ground, the market prides itself on being women-friendly in more than one way. According to studies, the market’s female-only workforce is a result of an ancient forced labour system in the region. Called Lallup-Kaba, the tradition saw men of the Meitei community being sent away to cultivate lands and fight wars. In the meanwhile, the women stayed back and worked in their paddy fields, took care of households and sold the farm produce in nearby markets. As a result, markets with women selling their home-produce grew as a concept, and thus Ima Keithal was born. Ima Keithal, an all-women market in India (Twitter) × Going back in history, these women also fought against British colonial rule. In one particular case, women of the region stood up against Nupi Lan (Women’s War) that forced them to export large amounts of locally grown rice to British battalions in the country. Women traders of Ima Keithel came out together against this regressive move as this market was seen as a symbol for their cultural identity. The market has an all-female workforce (Twitter) × Ima Keithal’s women play an important role in Imphal’s local economy and has progressed from just being a market, to one that is globally recognised as a movement for liberty, equality and women’s rights.

World's largest all-women market you have not heard about

TR Zeliang was today&nbsp;sworn in as the new chief minister of Nagaland at the Darbar hall in Raj Bhavan.

Nagaland governor PB Acharya invited former chief minister TR Zeliang to be sworn in as chief minister after embattled chief minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu and his supporters failed to turn up in the Assembly to face the floor test.

The governor has asked Zeliang to prove his majority on or before 22 July.

The governor had on July 11 and July 13 directed ex-chief minister Liezietsu, who was&nbsp;facing rebellion by 43 ruling Naga Peoples Front MLAs led by Zeliang demanding change of leadership in the present House of 59, to seek vote of confidence on or before July 15 but&nbsp; Liezietsu failed to show up at the Assembly today.

Nagaland&#39;s new chief minister Zeliang was forced out of office in February following large scale protests over holding of urban local bodies election with 33 per cent reservation for women.

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TR Zeliang sworn in as the new Chief Minister of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nagaland?src=hash">#Nagaland</a> at Darbar Hall, Raj Bhavan in Kohima. <a href="https://t.co/ldyLVqmwUB">pic.twitter.com/ldyLVqmwUB</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/887615287557734400">July 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The governor has asked Zeliang to prove his majority on or before 22 July

TR Zeliang was today sworn in as the new chief minister of Nagaland at the Darbar hall in Raj Bhavan. Nagaland governor PB Acharya invited former chief minister TR Zeliang to be sworn in as chief minister after embattled chief minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu and his supporters failed to turn up in the Assembly to face the floor test. The governor has asked Zeliang to prove his majority on or before 22 July. The governor had on July 11 and July 13 directed ex-chief minister Liezietsu, who was facing rebellion by 43 ruling Naga Peoples Front MLAs led by Zeliang demanding change of leadership in the present House of 59, to seek vote of confidence on or before July 15 but Liezietsu failed to show up at the Assembly today. Nagaland's new chief minister Zeliang was forced out of office in February following large scale protests over holding of urban local bodies election with 33 per cent reservation for women. TR Zeliang sworn in as the new Chief Minister of #Nagaland at Darbar Hall, Raj Bhavan in Kohima. pic.twitter.com/ldyLVqmwUB — ANI (@ANI_news) July 19, 2017 ×

Zeliang sworn in as Nagaland chief minister after ex-CM Liezietsu fails to show up for floor test

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/yaWyK95.png" style="margin:0 auto;width: 350px;height:auto;" />

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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/oWNb1hL.png" style="margin:0 auto;width: 350px;height:auto;" />

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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/njOlaob.png" style="margin:0 auto;width: 350px;height:auto;" />

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<img src="http://i.imgur.com/Efue1AO.png" style="margin:0 auto;width: 350px;height:auto;" />

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Sources: <a href="http://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national-exit-poll-assembly-elections-five-states-india-tv-371824">IndiaTV &ndash; Cvoter</a> ; <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/live-blogs/exit-poll-2017-assembly-elections-result-up-results-/199.html">India Today - Axis My India</a> ; <a href="http://www.newsx.com/national/58142-live-newsx-mrc-exit-polls-the-most-accurate-break-up-of-numbers?pfrom=tags">NewsX - MRC</a> ; <a href="http://www.timesnow.tv/india/article/exit-polls-bjp-win-projected-in-4-states/57316">Times Now- VMR</a> ; ABP &ndash; Lokniti <a href="http://www.abplive.in/india-news/bjp-set-to-sweep-uttarakhand-may-get-34-42-seats-abp-news-exit-poll-503210">1</a>, <a href="http://www.abplive.in/india-news/punjab-exit-poll-live-updates-congress-aap-or-bjp-sad-503122">2</a>, <a href="http://www.abplive.in/india-news/abp-news-exit-poll-live-updates-wholl-be-victorious-in-up-uttarakhand-punjab-goa-502918">3</a>, <a href="http://abpnews.abplive.in/india-news/assembly-elections-exit-polls-2017-know-which-party-is-going-to-win-the-election-574390">4</a> ; <a href="http://www.todayschanakya.com/">News24 - Today&#39;s Chanakya</a> &nbsp;

Party abbreviations: INC: Indian National Congress, AAP: Aam Aadmi Party, SAD: Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP: Bharatiya Janta Party, BSP: Bahujan Samaj Party, SP: Samajwadi Party.&nbsp;

Note: Only the seat totals given by various agencies were compared, not the predictions for individual constituencies. Also, if an agency had given out a seat range as opposed to a specific seat total for any party/alliance, the mid-point of the range was used for comparison.&nbsp;

Update: Images were modified to accurately reflect the exit poll results.

Which polling agencies got the Indian state election results right? And which got it badly wrong? Check the graphics below to find out.

Sources: IndiaTV – Cvoter ; India Today - Axis My India ; NewsX - MRC ; Times Now- VMR ; ABP – Lokniti 1, 2, 3, 4 ; News24 - Today's Chanakya Party abbreviations: INC: Indian National Congress, AAP: Aam Aadmi Party, SAD: Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP: Bharatiya Janta Party, BSP: Bahujan Samaj Party, SP: Samajwadi Party. Note: Only the seat totals given by various agencies were compared, not the predictions for individual constituencies. Also, if an agency had given out a seat range as opposed to a specific seat total for any party/alliance, the mid-point of the range was used for comparison. Update: Images were modified to accurately reflect the exit poll results.

Indian Assembly elections: Did anyone get their predictions right?

Here's an interactive look at the Indian states going to the polls over the next few weeks

Making sense of India's state elections

By Iftikhar Gilani

The Election Commission has announced the schedule of the high-stakes Assembly polls in UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur, which are being touted as a mini-general election. Since polls are being held exactly around the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi completes his half-term in office, they are also seen as a referendum on his policies and programmes, ahead of his big battle to seek mandate for another term in 2019.

The current elections are particularly a test of Modi&rsquo;s popularity among the middle class and business community as they come soon after the demonetisation decision. His latest strategy to build new social support base for the BJP also faces a litmus test. His decision to demonetize the higher denomination currencies and his welfare schemes have caught the imagination of the poor. Though Modi had been underlining his government&rsquo;s focus on &lsquo;antyodaya&rsquo; (the last man in the queue) and focusing on Babasaheb Ambedkar &mdash; the Dalit icon &mdash; for over a year now, his November 8 announcement of banning high-end notes has somewhat broken the barrier between classes. It has found resonance amongst the poor and the downtrodden as they were the biggest victims of corruption.

This is not an election campaign, it is a historic battle between rich and poor. &ldquo;Kaante ki takkar hai (it&rsquo;s a neck-and-neck fight),&rdquo; says Ram Naresh, a taxi driver from Noida, Uttar Pradesh. It makes him feel important when he sees his former employer queue up outside an ATM and later at a bank to get cash.

These elections are a battle of nerves for the BJP, because out of the five states, it rules Goa and is an alliance partner in Punjab. Though it has been out of power for over past 14 years in UP, it had swept Lok Sabha elections winning 71 of the 80 seats (its ally Apna Dal won two) in the 2014 general election. In Uttarakhand, it is directly pitted against the ruling Congress.

An opinion poll conducted a couple of months ago had shown an overwhelming majority (as high as 90 per cent in UP, 88 per cent in Punjab and 77 per cent in Uttarakhand) supporting these strikes. About 67 per cent of those polled in UP and 76 per cent in Uttarakhand said the strikes have made the BJP electorally strong. But the mood was somewhat opposite in Punjab, where the ruling Akali Dal-BJP combine is fighting a strong anti-incumbency factor. The Congress till a few years ago was a frontrunner in Punjab, banking upon upper caste Hindu voters (38 per cent) and Scheduled Castes (34 per cent of SC Hindus and 35 per cent of SC Sikhs) to return to power. But of late, its pitch has been queered with the entry of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The drugs problem continues to be on top of the agenda in the border state. Many top leaders of the government had been allegedly found involved in the drug racket.

In UP &mdash; with a population of over 200 million &mdash; often considered to be an election bellwether in India, the BJP had got just 15 per cent of the votes in 2012. But keeping in view its performance in the last Lok Sabha polls, it is now set to win 31 per cent, an unprecedented 16 per cent swing in its favour as the opinion polls suggest. But that may not be a guarantee to form a government on its own, say analysts. But capturing Lucknow is an important and critical milestone for Modi to be able to gain control of Rajya Sabha, as well as turn the Presidential election scheduled to be held in July in his favour. A lack of a majority in the Upper House has hit Modi&rsquo;s economic reforms agenda and delayed passage of a key tax legislation &mdash; the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill.

The state with 403 Assembly seats will test Modi&rsquo;s popularity after he abruptly pulled 86 per cent of the currency out of the system. The Congress said it will also highlight the cash crunch aspect of note ban.

&ldquo;The notes ban has caused the maximum pain to each of the 125 crore Indians,&rdquo; said party spokesperson Manish Tewari.

With the family feud taking dangerous proportions within the ruling Samajwadi Party, the BJP and BSP are smelling a chance. The Congress, much depleted after a series of electoral losses, is looking to form an alliance with Akhilesh Yadav if he is able to gain control of the Samajwadi Party or form his own party. A potential gainer &mdash; apart from the BJP, which has not governed Uttar Pradesh for 14 years &mdash; is Mayawati, the 60-year-old Dalit icon who has served four times as Chief Minister. Muslims, who form 19 per cent of the state&rsquo;s population, have traditionally been loyal to the Samajwadi Party. She is now working to win them over to her Bahujan Samaj Party and has allotted the maximum number of seats to Muslim candidates.

Mayawati is calling on minority groups such as the Dalits, who constitute 22 per cent of the population, and Muslims to reject the BJP, raking up issues like Dadri lynching of Ilkhlaq Hussain, beef ban and riots in Muzaffarnagar. Many lower caste voters had deserted her party in 2014, allowing the BJP to win a majority of seats. Aware that Mayawati is emerging as the main opponent to Modi in Uttar Pradesh, BJP chief Amit Shah has made more than 150 visits to the state in the last two years to expand the BJP&rsquo;s appeal from its traditional base of prosperous and upper caste voters to the less privileged ones.

In the far-off North-Eastern state of Manipur, where elections will he held in two phases &mdash; on March 4 and 8 &mdash; a bitter tussle is expected between the ruling Congress and the BJP. The BJP, which won the elections in Assam last year, is hoping to unseat the Congress. Ahead of the elections, the state has witnessed large scale unrest over issues including the inner-line permit system, creation of seven new districts and the demand by various groups to be named as scheduled tribes.

The land locked state is currently under an economic blockade called by the United Naga Council &mdash; the top group of the Naga tribes in Manipur over the state government&rsquo;s decision of creation of seven new districts, which has already crossed 70 days. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has pointed out that it is the &ldquo;constitutional duty of the state government&rdquo; to restore normalcy. Dr Mohammad Imtiyaz Khan who teaches at Gauhati University says that even after three terms, Congress government in Manipur has failed miserably to execute plans which are in larger public interest.

A local journalist Aya Shimray believes that there is a huge disparity between the hills and the valley. &ldquo;It has only helped in creating a sense of alienation in the hills. The tribals in the state are peeved at the manner in which they are being prevented from enjoying the privilges of employment offered to them by the country&rsquo;s constitution. Various instances of discrimination against the tribals even in its bureaucratic set up have surfaced during Ibobi&rsquo;s rule,&rdquo; he adds. Ibobi Singh, who has been in office since 2002, faces a life-time challenge from Irom Sharmila, who fasted for 16 years to demand the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). She has formally announced to take on Singh in Assembly polls. Sharmila ended her fast against AFSPA on August 9 last year, and formed the People&rsquo;s Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) with an aim to become the Chief Minister and repeal the act. Sharmila said: &ldquo;During his 15 years of leadership, he has not done anything to repeal AFSPA. Since I realise that no politician shall repeal it, I am planning to contest the election, become the Chief Minister and repeal it.&rdquo;

In Goa, where the BJP is in power with its pre-poll alliance partner of 2012 Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), it is facing a stiff resistance both from the Congress and the AAP. More than the PM, here the fortunes of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar are at stake, who has been utilising every opportunity he gets to spend time in his home state. Goa is perhaps the first state where the RSS has split ranks with the BJP. It&rsquo;s a different matter that the BJP leaders say that it is only a section of the RSS which has formed a party called Goa Surakhsa Manch (GSM).

The 2017 elections are definitely a big test for Modi. Their outcome will chart the course for the 2019 general elections. Although state elections are largely governed by caste and community equations and the political campaigns are centred around state-level issues, Modi has emerged as a propelling figure in BJP campaigns. It is an election between him and the rest of political forces. His supporters are also banking upon him rather the party machinery, projecting him as an honest, incorruptible leader, someone who, unlike the Congress, is capable of taking prompt decisions. Amidst a divided Opposition, it seems they have managed to sail their ship through muddy waters. But in India, elections are known for throwing surprises.&nbsp;

(This report first appeared in DNA)

The states go to the polls just as the PM completes a half-term in office, so they are being seen as a referendum on him

By Iftikhar Gilani The Election Commission has announced the schedule of the high-stakes Assembly polls in UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur, which are being touted as a mini-general election. Since polls are being held exactly around the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi completes his half-term in office, they are also seen as a referendum on his policies and programmes, ahead of his big battle to seek mandate for another term in 2019. The current elections are particularly a test of Modi’s popularity among the middle class and business community as they come soon after the demonetisation decision. His latest strategy to build new social support base for the BJP also faces a litmus test. His decision to demonetize the higher denomination currencies and his welfare schemes have caught the imagination of the poor. Though Modi had been underlining his government’s focus on ‘antyodaya’ (the last man in the queue) and focusing on Babasaheb Ambedkar — the Dalit icon — for over a year now, his November 8 announcement of banning high-end notes has somewhat broken the barrier between classes. It has found resonance amongst the poor and the downtrodden as they were the biggest victims of corruption. This is not an election campaign, it is a historic battle between rich and poor. “Kaante ki takkar hai (it’s a neck-and-neck fight),” says Ram Naresh, a taxi driver from Noida, Uttar Pradesh. It makes him feel important when he sees his former employer queue up outside an ATM and later at a bank to get cash. These elections are a battle of nerves for the BJP, because out of the five states, it rules Goa and is an alliance partner in Punjab. Though it has been out of power for over past 14 years in UP, it had swept Lok Sabha elections winning 71 of the 80 seats (its ally Apna Dal won two) in the 2014 general election. In Uttarakhand, it is directly pitted against the ruling Congress. An opinion poll conducted a couple of months ago had shown an overwhelming majority (as high as 90 per cent in UP, 88 per cent in Punjab and 77 per cent in Uttarakhand) supporting these strikes. About 67 per cent of those polled in UP and 76 per cent in Uttarakhand said the strikes have made the BJP electorally strong. But the mood was somewhat opposite in Punjab, where the ruling Akali Dal-BJP combine is fighting a strong anti-incumbency factor. The Congress till a few years ago was a frontrunner in Punjab, banking upon upper caste Hindu voters (38 per cent) and Scheduled Castes (34 per cent of SC Hindus and 35 per cent of SC Sikhs) to return to power. But of late, its pitch has been queered with the entry of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The drugs problem continues to be on top of the agenda in the border state. Many top leaders of the government had been allegedly found involved in the drug racket. In UP — with a population of over 200 million — often considered to be an election bellwether in India, the BJP had got just 15 per cent of the votes in 2012. But keeping in view its performance in the last Lok Sabha polls, it is now set to win 31 per cent, an unprecedented 16 per cent swing in its favour as the opinion polls suggest. But that may not be a guarantee to form a government on its own, say analysts. But capturing Lucknow is an important and critical milestone for Modi to be able to gain control of Rajya Sabha, as well as turn the Presidential election scheduled to be held in July in his favour. A lack of a majority in the Upper House has hit Modi’s economic reforms agenda and delayed passage of a key tax legislation — the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill. The state with 403 Assembly seats will test Modi’s popularity after he abruptly pulled 86 per cent of the currency out of the system. The Congress said it will also highlight the cash crunch aspect of note ban. “The notes ban has caused the maximum pain to each of the 125 crore Indians,” said party spokesperson Manish Tewari. With the family feud taking dangerous proportions within the ruling Samajwadi Party, the BJP and BSP are smelling a chance. The Congress, much depleted after a series of electoral losses, is looking to form an alliance with Akhilesh Yadav if he is able to gain control of the Samajwadi Party or form his own party. A potential gainer — apart from the BJP, which has not governed Uttar Pradesh for 14 years — is Mayawati, the 60-year-old Dalit icon who has served four times as Chief Minister. Muslims, who form 19 per cent of the state’s population, have traditionally been loyal to the Samajwadi Party. She is now working to win them over to her Bahujan Samaj Party and has allotted the maximum number of seats to Muslim candidates. Mayawati is calling on minority groups such as the Dalits, who constitute 22 per cent of the population, and Muslims to reject the BJP, raking up issues like Dadri lynching of Ilkhlaq Hussain, beef ban and riots in Muzaffarnagar. Many lower caste voters had deserted her party in 2014, allowing the BJP to win a majority of seats. Aware that Mayawati is emerging as the main opponent to Modi in Uttar Pradesh, BJP chief Amit Shah has made more than 150 visits to the state in the last two years to expand the BJP’s appeal from its traditional base of prosperous and upper caste voters to the less privileged ones. In the far-off North-Eastern state of Manipur, where elections will he held in two phases — on March 4 and 8 — a bitter tussle is expected between the ruling Congress and the BJP. The BJP, which won the elections in Assam last year, is hoping to unseat the Congress. Ahead of the elections, the state has witnessed large scale unrest over issues including the inner-line permit system, creation of seven new districts and the demand by various groups to be named as scheduled tribes. The land locked state is currently under an economic blockade called by the United Naga Council — the top group of the Naga tribes in Manipur over the state government’s decision of creation of seven new districts, which has already crossed 70 days. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has pointed out that it is the “constitutional duty of the state government” to restore normalcy. Dr Mohammad Imtiyaz Khan who teaches at Gauhati University says that even after three terms, Congress government in Manipur has failed miserably to execute plans which are in larger public interest. A local journalist Aya Shimray believes that there is a huge disparity between the hills and the valley. “It has only helped in creating a sense of alienation in the hills. The tribals in the state are peeved at the manner in which they are being prevented from enjoying the privilges of employment offered to them by the country’s constitution. Various instances of discrimination against the tribals even in its bureaucratic set up have surfaced during Ibobi’s rule,” he adds. Ibobi Singh, who has been in office since 2002, faces a life-time challenge from Irom Sharmila, who fasted for 16 years to demand the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). She has formally announced to take on Singh in Assembly polls. Sharmila ended her fast against AFSPA on August 9 last year, and formed the People’s Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) with an aim to become the Chief Minister and repeal the act. Sharmila said: “During his 15 years of leadership, he has not done anything to repeal AFSPA. Since I realise that no politician shall repeal it, I am planning to contest the election, become the Chief Minister and repeal it.” In Goa, where the BJP is in power with its pre-poll alliance partner of 2012 Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), it is facing a stiff resistance both from the Congress and the AAP. More than the PM, here the fortunes of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar are at stake, who has been utilising every opportunity he gets to spend time in his home state. Goa is perhaps the first state where the RSS has split ranks with the BJP. It’s a different matter that the BJP leaders say that it is only a section of the RSS which has formed a party called Goa Surakhsa Manch (GSM). The 2017 elections are definitely a big test for Modi. Their outcome will chart the course for the 2019 general elections. Although state elections are largely governed by caste and community equations and the political campaigns are centred around state-level issues, Modi has emerged as a propelling figure in BJP campaigns. It is an election between him and the rest of political forces. His supporters are also banking upon him rather the party machinery, projecting him as an honest, incorruptible leader, someone who, unlike the Congress, is capable of taking prompt decisions. Amidst a divided Opposition, it seems they have managed to sail their ship through muddy waters. But in India, elections are known for throwing surprises. (This report first appeared in DNA)

India: In states going to polls, it's Modi versus the rest

Indian rights activist Irom Sharmila -- who has waged what is thought to be the world&#39;s longest hunger strike -- ended her 16-year fast today, two weeks after declaring she was entering politics. 
 
Sharmila, dubbed the &quot;Iron Lady of Manipur&quot; for her unwavering protest against rights abuses in the insurgency-hit northeast Indian state, was released on bail after she promised a court she would end her fast. 
 
She had been held in judicial custody on charges of attempting suicide -- still a criminal offence in India -- and force-fed through a plastic tube. 
 
&quot;I have been released on bail following my personal written bond,&quot; she told journalists outside the court in the Manipur capital Imphal. 
 
&quot;I have been fasting for the past 16 years, I am ending my fast today. I want to try a different agitation now,&quot; she said.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I will contest against the chief minister of Manipur in the upcoming state elections,&quot; she added, promising to get AFSPA repealed once she wins the elections.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
Irom is campaigning for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which covers large parts of the northeast and the restive state of Kashmir. 
 
It gives Indian forces sweeping powers to search, enter property and shoot on sight, and is seen by critics as a cover for human rights abuses. 
 
The Indian government says security forces need the powers to help them battle multiple rebel groups whose long-standing demands range from secession to greater autonomy and land rights. 
 
Irom began her fast on November 2, 2000 after allegedly witnessing the killing of 10 people by the army at a bus stop near her home. 
 
Two weeks ago she surprised supporters by declaring she would end her fast to stand in the 2017 state elections as an independent candidate. 
 
&quot;My fight so far has been all alone and so I have decided to wage a war against the (AFSPA) act democratically by becoming a lawmaker instead of continuing with my fast,&quot; she told reporters at the time. 
 
(Agencies)

Irom Sharmila of Manipur has waged what is thought to be the world's longest hunger strike in protest of rights abuses

Indian rights activist Irom Sharmila -- who has waged what is thought to be the world's longest hunger strike -- ended her 16-year fast today, two weeks after declaring she was entering politics. Sharmila, dubbed the "Iron Lady of Manipur" for her unwavering protest against rights abuses in the insurgency-hit northeast Indian state, was released on bail after she promised a court she would end her fast. She had been held in judicial custody on charges of attempting suicide -- still a criminal offence in India -- and force-fed through a plastic tube. "I have been released on bail following my personal written bond," she told journalists outside the court in the Manipur capital Imphal. "I have been fasting for the past 16 years, I am ending my fast today. I want to try a different agitation now," she said. "I will contest against the chief minister of Manipur in the upcoming state elections," she added, promising to get AFSPA repealed once she wins the elections." Irom is campaigning for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which covers large parts of the northeast and the restive state of Kashmir. It gives Indian forces sweeping powers to search, enter property and shoot on sight, and is seen by critics as a cover for human rights abuses. The Indian government says security forces need the powers to help them battle multiple rebel groups whose long-standing demands range from secession to greater autonomy and land rights. Irom began her fast on November 2, 2000 after allegedly witnessing the killing of 10 people by the army at a bus stop near her home. Two weeks ago she surprised supporters by declaring she would end her fast to stand in the 2017 state elections as an independent candidate. "My fight so far has been all alone and so I have decided to wage a war against the (AFSPA) act democratically by becoming a lawmaker instead of continuing with my fast," she told reporters at the time. (Agencies)

India's 'Iron Lady' ends 16-yr fast, says will fight chief minister in next elections

The election commission of India announced Wednesday the election schedule for five states going to the polls. It also said that it will implement the recent Supreme Court order barring religion, race, caste, community and language&nbsp;from being used at the time of elections to get votes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The states going to the polls are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur, and Uttarakhand.

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ECI will ensure level playing field for inclusive, free and fair elections, by curbing muscle power and abuse of money: CEC Nasim Zaidi <a href="https://t.co/QPxP22D3lF">pic.twitter.com/QPxP22D3lF</a>
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Elections in Goa and Punjab will be held on February 4, and in Uttarakhand on February 15.

Manipur will go to the polls in two phases, on March 4 and March 8.

Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls in seven phases: February 11, 15, 19; 23, 27, March 4, and March 8.

Making the announcements, chief election commissioner Nasim Zaidi said, &quot;Model code of conduct comes into force with immediate effect.&quot;

&quot;690 legislative assemblies will go to polls. Over 16 crore voters will participate in the election. Nearly 100% voters have electoral photo id cards. There will be complete accountability of photo voter slips and colourful voter guides will be distributed to each family,&quot; he added. .

Stating that there will be a voter assistance booth outside every polling station, Zaidi said, &quot;The height of voting compartments has been raised to 30 inch for secrecy and every polling station will have four posters for voting procedure and dos and don&#39;ts.&quot;

Zaidi added that the ECI is committed to curbing the misuse of black money, cash, liquor, and gifts to influence voters.

(This report first appeared in DNA)&nbsp;

The states are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur, and Uttarakhand. All votes will be counted on March 11

The election commission of India announced Wednesday the election schedule for five states going to the polls. It also said that it will implement the recent Supreme Court order barring religion, race, caste, community and language from being used at the time of elections to get votes. The states going to the polls are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur, and Uttarakhand. ECI will ensure level playing field for inclusive, free and fair elections, by curbing muscle power and abuse of money: CEC Nasim Zaidi pic.twitter.com/QPxP22D3lF — ANI (@ANI_news) January 4, 2017 × Elections in Goa and Punjab will be held on February 4, and in Uttarakhand on February 15. Manipur will go to the polls in two phases, on March 4 and March 8. Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls in seven phases: February 11, 15, 19; 23, 27, March 4, and March 8. Making the announcements, chief election commissioner Nasim Zaidi said, "Model code of conduct comes into force with immediate effect." "690 legislative assemblies will go to polls. Over 16 crore voters will participate in the election. Nearly 100% voters have electoral photo id cards. There will be complete accountability of photo voter slips and colourful voter guides will be distributed to each family," he added. . Stating that there will be a voter assistance booth outside every polling station, Zaidi said, "The height of voting compartments has been raised to 30 inch for secrecy and every polling station will have four posters for voting procedure and dos and don'ts." Zaidi added that the ECI is committed to curbing the misuse of black money, cash, liquor, and gifts to influence voters. (This report first appeared in DNA)

Election Commission of India announces poll schedule in five states, says will follow apex court order

The ripples of the ongoing economic blockade in India&#39;s northeastern state of Manipur were today felt in the national capital, with rival Manipuri and Naga groups staging protests over the tense law-and-order situation in the state which will go to polls in March.

While members of the Delhi Manipuri Society highlighted the &quot;humanitarian crisis&quot; due to the indefinite economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) since November 1, the Naga groups demanded imposition of President&#39;s Rule in the state.

The UNC had imposed the blockade against the creation of seven new districts in the landlocked state by bifurcating the existing ones.

&quot;It is a question of survival. The blockade is inhumane. People are facing extreme difficulties in terms of food, medicines, fuel. The essentials to lead a normal life are either absent or beyond the reach of the common man. Is the government scared of the UNC? Is there something called rule of law?&quot;, Delhi Manipuri Society vice-president Sangeeta asked.

A large number of Manipuri youths took part in the day-long sit-in at Jantar Mantar here with posters containing messages demanding an immediate end to the blockade.

Meanwhile, members of the Joint Naga Civil Societies demonstrated outside Manipur Bhawan alleging that &quot;Manipuri mobs backed by the state government&quot; had &quot;attacked&quot; Naga civilians after December 18.

&quot;We demand President&#39;s Rule because the law-and-order situation in Manipur is bad. New districts have been carved out undemocratically and UNC leaders are in jail. Nagas are not safe under the Manipuri security forces,&quot; Lakpachui Siro, convener of the committee, said.

(PTI)

Manipuri youths took part in the day-long sit-in at Jantar Mantar with posters containing messages demanding an end to the economic blockade

The ripples of the ongoing economic blockade in India's northeastern state of Manipur were today felt in the national capital, with rival Manipuri and Naga groups staging protests over the tense law-and-order situation in the state which will go to polls in March. While members of the Delhi Manipuri Society highlighted the "humanitarian crisis" due to the indefinite economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) since November 1, the Naga groups demanded imposition of President's Rule in the state. The UNC had imposed the blockade against the creation of seven new districts in the landlocked state by bifurcating the existing ones. "It is a question of survival. The blockade is inhumane. People are facing extreme difficulties in terms of food, medicines, fuel. The essentials to lead a normal life are either absent or beyond the reach of the common man. Is the government scared of the UNC? Is there something called rule of law?", Delhi Manipuri Society vice-president Sangeeta asked. A large number of Manipuri youths took part in the day-long sit-in at Jantar Mantar here with posters containing messages demanding an immediate end to the blockade. Meanwhile, members of the Joint Naga Civil Societies demonstrated outside Manipur Bhawan alleging that "Manipuri mobs backed by the state government" had "attacked" Naga civilians after December 18. "We demand President's Rule because the law-and-order situation in Manipur is bad. New districts have been carved out undemocratically and UNC leaders are in jail. Nagas are not safe under the Manipuri security forces," Lakpachui Siro, convener of the committee, said. (PTI)

India: Protest against Manipur's economic blockade in national capital

Indian Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag is in Manipur to review the&nbsp;security situation in the state, amidst the ongoing economic blockade by the United Naga Council.&nbsp;

Minister of state for Home Kiren Rijiju visited the state yesterday to take stock of the situation. He was accompanied by joint secretary Satyendra Garg and other officials from the central government.&nbsp;

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<h5>On Saturday, the blockade entered its 45th day</h5>
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Rijiju also met Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and deputy chief minister Gaikhangam.&nbsp;

&quot;The meeting was positive. Centre will provide all kinds of help to the state so that there is a smooth flow of essential&nbsp;commodities, which have been stranded due to the ongoing economic blockade. People of Manipur should not suffer because of the blockade,&quot; Rijiju had said after the meeting.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

So far, some 8,000 central paramilitary forces personnel have been deployed in the state. CRPF personnel are also escorting trucks carrying essential supplies on the Imphal-Silchar highway.&nbsp;

This force deployment by the central government has come in the wake of violent clashes last Sunday in Imphal East district when the Meiteis clashed with the Nagas. The Meiteis&nbsp;-- protesting against the ongoing blockade of two highways and the recent killing of three policemen -- torched as many as 22 vehicles on the Imphal-Ukhrul Road.

An indefinite curfew -- which was lifted for a day on Saturday -- was imposed following the clashes.&nbsp;

The Union Naga Council (UNC) has blockaded two national highways -- NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) -- since November 1. On Saturday, the blockade entered its 54th day.

The blockade has cut Manipur off completely, since most supplies enter the state on those two highways.&nbsp;

The UNC put up the blockade after the Manipur government announced the formation of seven new districts, taking the total number of districts in the state to 16.

The Nagas allege two of the new districts -- Kangpokpi and Jiribam -- will snatch their ancestral lands away from them.&nbsp;

The Imphal valley is inhabited by the Meiteis, the hills by the Nagas.&nbsp;

The newly formed districts are Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Pherzawl, Noney, Kamjong, Jiribam and Kakching.

Meanwhile, internet services have been suspended till December 25 in the violence-hit areas to prevent any further&nbsp;flaring up of tension.

(WION)&nbsp;

Clashes broke out between the Meiteis and Nagas after the latter blockaded two highways leading into the state

Indian Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag is in Manipur to review the security situation in the state, amidst the ongoing economic blockade by the United Naga Council. Minister of state for Home Kiren Rijiju visited the state yesterday to take stock of the situation. He was accompanied by joint secretary Satyendra Garg and other officials from the central government. On Saturday, the blockade entered its 45th day × Rijiju also met Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and deputy chief minister Gaikhangam. "The meeting was positive. Centre will provide all kinds of help to the state so that there is a smooth flow of essential commodities, which have been stranded due to the ongoing economic blockade. People of Manipur should not suffer because of the blockade," Rijiju had said after the meeting. #ManipurBlockade Army Chief Dalbir Singh visits Manipur to review security situation pic.twitter.com/94xVcJG0h3 — ANI (@ANI_news) December 24, 2016 × So far, some 8,000 central paramilitary forces personnel have been deployed in the state. CRPF personnel are also escorting trucks carrying essential supplies on the Imphal-Silchar highway. This force deployment by the central government has come in the wake of violent clashes last Sunday in Imphal East district when the Meiteis clashed with the Nagas. The Meiteis -- protesting against the ongoing blockade of two highways and the recent killing of three policemen -- torched as many as 22 vehicles on the Imphal-Ukhrul Road. An indefinite curfew -- which was lifted for a day on Saturday -- was imposed following the clashes. The Union Naga Council (UNC) has blockaded two national highways -- NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) -- since November 1. On Saturday, the blockade entered its 54th day. The blockade has cut Manipur off completely, since most supplies enter the state on those two highways. The UNC put up the blockade after the Manipur government announced the formation of seven new districts, taking the total number of districts in the state to 16. The Nagas allege two of the new districts -- Kangpokpi and Jiribam -- will snatch their ancestral lands away from them. The Imphal valley is inhabited by the Meiteis, the hills by the Nagas. The newly formed districts are Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Pherzawl, Noney, Kamjong, Jiribam and Kakching. Meanwhile, internet services have been suspended till December 25 in the violence-hit areas to prevent any further flaring up of tension. (WION)

Indian Army chief in Manipur to review security situation

Three government offices, including that of the office of the recently created Kamjong district, were burnt down by unidentified persons in the eastern Indian state of Manipur, which is witnessing an economic blockade imposed by United Naga Council.

&quot;Around 5 to 6 unidentified persons came around 3:00 am and torched the office of Sub-divisional office,&quot; newly appointed deputy commissioner Armstrong Pame of Kamjong district told PTI.

He said the office of the DC Kamjong was temporarily set up within the SDO office, as the newly built office of DC Kamjong was yet to be inaugurated.

The creation of the Kamjong district, which was carved out from the Ukhrul district, has been strongly protested by various Manipur-based Naga civil bodies including the Tangkhul Naga Long and United Naga Council (UNC) amongst others.

In another incident, two rooms of mini Secretariat were also set on fire by unidentified persons in Ukhrul district in the wee hours today, a police officer said.

(PTI)

Deputy commissioner of Kamjong district said 5 to 6 unidentified persons came around 3:00 am and torched the Sub-divisional office

Three government offices, including that of the office of the recently created Kamjong district, were burnt down by unidentified persons in the eastern Indian state of Manipur, which is witnessing an economic blockade imposed by United Naga Council. "Around 5 to 6 unidentified persons came around 3:00 am and torched the office of Sub-divisional office," newly appointed deputy commissioner Armstrong Pame of Kamjong district told PTI. He said the office of the DC Kamjong was temporarily set up within the SDO office, as the newly built office of DC Kamjong was yet to be inaugurated. The creation of the Kamjong district, which was carved out from the Ukhrul district, has been strongly protested by various Manipur-based Naga civil bodies including the Tangkhul Naga Long and United Naga Council (UNC) amongst others. In another incident, two rooms of mini Secretariat were also set on fire by unidentified persons in Ukhrul district in the wee hours today, a police officer said. (PTI)

India: Three government offices burnt down in Manipur

By&nbsp;Raghvendra Rao

India&#39;s interior minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday shot off a sternly-worded letter to Okram Ibobi Singh, chief minister of northeastern&nbsp;frontier state, Manipur, on the continuing economic blockade on two National Highways that is causing acute shortage of essential goods in the state.&nbsp;

The letter said the state government had &quot;failed to keep the National Highway 2 open&quot; inspite of the Indian central government&#39;s &quot;repeated requests&quot;&nbsp;and the provision of &quot;central forces to assist local forces&quot;. He also reminded the Manipur chief minister that the state government has to &quot;display the will&quot; to end the blockade and &quot;take leadership&quot;.

Singh stressed upon the fact that law and order fell within the state government&#39;s ambit of power&nbsp;and reiterated that the national government &quot;can only assist&quot; it &quot;in case such assistance is required and asked for&quot;.

Rajnath Singh further said that the Indian interior ministry had responded to the state government&#39;s request seeking central forces and had made available 30 companies comprising about 3,000 personnel.

&quot;Indeed, when the State Government did move two convoys along the National Highway-2, on 2nd December (244 vehicles) and on 8th December (314 vehicles), Central Forces assisted the movement of this convoy which enabled some essential supplies to reach Manipur,&quot; Rajnath Singh wrote. He, however, added that there had been no initiative from the state government to &quot;either ensure that the NH-2 is kept open or that at least movement of convoys is made, in spite of availability of the additional forces&quot; despite interior ministry officials being in constant touch with the state government.

The interior minister also cited the visit by special secretary (internal security) on December 14-15;&nbsp;a message sent on December 19 to the state director general of police&nbsp;assuring the state government of the central government&#39;s commitment to supporting it in opening National Highway 2;&nbsp;and, follow-up telephone&nbsp;calls by special secretary (internal security)&nbsp;and a joint secretary as instances of the Centre&#39;s proactive approach. &quot;However, there has been no response, or action, by the State Government,&quot; Rajnath Singh stated.

The interior minister urged the Manipur CM to ensure supply of commodities to the state through NH-2 &quot;rationally using the assistance of the Central Forces, as necessary&quot;.

Rajnath Singh asked the Manipur CM to discharge these constitutional obligations with utmost promptness &quot;for the sake of people of Manipur&quot;.

In another letter to Nagaland chief minister TR&nbsp;Zeliang, Rajnath Singh said even as the central government was trying to persuade the Manipur government to keep NH-2 open, there have been report of the Naga Students Federation (NSF) calling for blockage of vehicles even in the portion of NH-2 that passes through Nagaland. He requested the Nagaland chief minister to ensure that there is no disturbance of movement of vehicles going through Nagaland so that supplies can pass safely through that state.

&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

(WION)

Rajnath Singh reminded Manipur chief minister that his government has to 'display the will' to end the 52-day blockade and 'take leadership'

By Raghvendra Rao India's interior minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday shot off a sternly-worded letter to Okram Ibobi Singh, chief minister of northeastern frontier state, Manipur, on the continuing economic blockade on two National Highways that is causing acute shortage of essential goods in the state. The letter said the state government had "failed to keep the National Highway 2 open" inspite of the Indian central government's "repeated requests" and the provision of "central forces to assist local forces". He also reminded the Manipur chief minister that the state government has to "display the will" to end the blockade and "take leadership". Singh stressed upon the fact that law and order fell within the state government's ambit of power and reiterated that the national government "can only assist" it "in case such assistance is required and asked for". Rajnath Singh further said that the Indian interior ministry had responded to the state government's request seeking central forces and had made available 30 companies comprising about 3,000 personnel. "Indeed, when the State Government did move two convoys along the National Highway-2, on 2nd December (244 vehicles) and on 8th December (314 vehicles), Central Forces assisted the movement of this convoy which enabled some essential supplies to reach Manipur," Rajnath Singh wrote. He, however, added that there had been no initiative from the state government to "either ensure that the NH-2 is kept open or that at least movement of convoys is made, in spite of availability of the additional forces" despite interior ministry officials being in constant touch with the state government. The interior minister also cited the visit by special secretary (internal security) on December 14-15; a message sent on December 19 to the state director general of police assuring the state government of the central government's commitment to supporting it in opening National Highway 2; and, follow-up telephone calls by special secretary (internal security) and a joint secretary as instances of the Centre's proactive approach. "However, there has been no response, or action, by the State Government," Rajnath Singh stated. The interior minister urged the Manipur CM to ensure supply of commodities to the state through NH-2 "rationally using the assistance of the Central Forces, as necessary". Rajnath Singh asked the Manipur CM to discharge these constitutional obligations with utmost promptness "for the sake of people of Manipur". In another letter to Nagaland chief minister TR Zeliang, Rajnath Singh said even as the central government was trying to persuade the Manipur government to keep NH-2 open, there have been report of the Naga Students Federation (NSF) calling for blockage of vehicles even in the portion of NH-2 that passes through Nagaland. He requested the Nagaland chief minister to ensure that there is no disturbance of movement of vehicles going through Nagaland so that supplies can pass safely through that state. (WION)

India: Interior minister pens 'stern letter' to Manipur government over national highway blockade

Irom Sharmila or Sharmila Chanu began her fast in the year 2000 and instantly became an icon.&nbsp; She soon became the symbol of liberation for those who were fighting state repression. When feminists all over the world were debating on how to facilitate women&rsquo;s participation in activism for peace and security under the aegis of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, Sharmila took matters in her hands and began a fast against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the backwaters of Manipur. &nbsp;

Although the Naga Mothers were also agitating against AFSPA, it was Sharmila&rsquo;s activism that brought AFSPA squarely into urban coffee table debates. She was the symbol of middle-class respectability, a figure of protest contained in a hospital ward.&nbsp; She was our white dove and people soon forgot her revolutionary self that found the courage from nowhere to take on the mighty AFSPA. &nbsp;

AFSPA was passed way back in 1958 and later amended in 1972.&nbsp; It was a lift-off, with modifications, from the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Ordinance 1942 of British India.&nbsp; Only in its present form, it is much harsher than the Ordinance.&nbsp; AFSPA was created to suppress civil society, curb dissent, and legitimise state violence. As Khatoli Khala, a social activist informs us, &ldquo;logic demanded that an India that fought against such powers would, when independent, get rid of such legislation.&nbsp; Events, however, have proved the contrary.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Parliamentary debates bear testimony to the fact that when the Honourable Home Minister brought this bill to the floor in 1958 even the speaker was shocked. He said &ldquo;Does the Honourable Minister feel that this is the procedure? He can shoot if it is a disturbed area and that is the procedure established by law? He can shoot [italics added].&rdquo; Yet the Act was passed without a single amendment suggested from the floor.&nbsp; Women from most of Northeast India are unanimous in their opinion that in terms of brutality the Act surpasses all others by severely militarizing the region and unleashing an unforeseen culture of rape and relentless repression. &nbsp;

That women&rsquo;s reaction to AFSPA was not a product of feminine hysteria was proven by another event that took place in Manipur in 2004.&nbsp; In the early hours of July 11 a young woman named Thangjam Manorama was allegedly raped, tortured and murdered by members of the Assam Rifles.&nbsp;

Protest against AFSPA immediately took the character of a mass uprising.&nbsp; The Meira Paibies were in the forefront of this protest. They created an assemblage of protesting organisation called Apunba Lup that was responsible for the spectacular naked protest of middle-aged women in front of the Kangla Fort carrying placards that said &ldquo;Indian Army Rape Us.&rdquo;.&nbsp; Among all these events Sharmila Chanu resurfaced as a symbol of respectable protest and hope. Her Gandhian ways convinced many that even if all others fail Sharmila will succeed. That happened way back in 2004.

By 2012 women in India faced many new realities from which violence was never far removed. The December 2012 events in Delhi once again triggered debates over women and violence. The complexity of the situation was confirmed when even the Verma Committee was unable to address the issue of AFSPA and its effects on women.&nbsp; Also, the new rape laws failed to address the question of rape with impunity by the armed forces. There were those, such as myself, who argued that to understand violence against women in the Indian mainland one needs to hark back to the violence faced by women in Northeast India and investigate if there is a continuum between what is happening for decades to women in Northeast India to what is happening to women in rest of the country today. Irom Sharmila resurfaced in our conversation as the symbol of women&rsquo;s activism in Northeast.&nbsp; But in Northeast India, new and somewhat disturbing realities were emerging.

My visit to Northeast in 2013 brought those realities starkly to the forefront of my consciousness and writings for which I was censured by some. We had heard that for the last one decade the Government of India was making targeted policies of development that would particularly benefit the women of Northeast.&nbsp; The women were also embarking on a new diplomacy, siding sometimes with their erstwhile allies, and at other times with their previous antagonists.&nbsp;

Many were shocked when the Naga Mothers&#39; Association (NMA) brought a case against the HoHos because they were denied 33 % representation.&nbsp; Old alliances over self-determination were crumbling and a new crop of women&rsquo;s leadership was emerging. There were many like me who looked at these events with concern and wondered if the state machinery was finally succeeding in their appropriation of women&rsquo;s voices.&nbsp; With Sharmila&rsquo;s ending of her legendary fast, some say that we have come to the last act of that play.&nbsp;

I, however, feel that in this case, the truth might be somewhat different. Sharmila is an extremely skillful political actor who has understood that for any change hereafter she needs a new arsenal.&nbsp; In much of Northeast India people have become conscious that they can no longer shun electoral politics as an alien process.&nbsp; To make changes women need to appropriate all space, albeit even the ones considered &ldquo;dirty&rdquo;.&nbsp; For now, we should take the political activist by her word. Sharmila has always shown courage and more so now than before by coming out of a safe cocoon in the face of great opposition by those she considers her own, and challenging that the only respectable mode of protest for women is fasting.&nbsp; Instead of shunning her we ought to agree that there is no one way to peace. Perhaps the conundrum is not so much hers but ours. Why are we so comfortable for a woman to be a symbol and so disturbed when she wants to be an agentive actor?

&nbsp;

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To make changes women need to appropriate all space, albeit even the ones once considered ?dirty?.

Irom Sharmila or Sharmila Chanu began her fast in the year 2000 and instantly became an icon. She soon became the symbol of liberation for those who were fighting state repression. When feminists all over the world were debating on how to facilitate women’s participation in activism for peace and security under the aegis of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, Sharmila took matters in her hands and began a fast against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the backwaters of Manipur. Although the Naga Mothers were also agitating against AFSPA, it was Sharmila’s activism that brought AFSPA squarely into urban coffee table debates. She was the symbol of middle-class respectability, a figure of protest contained in a hospital ward. She was our white dove and people soon forgot her revolutionary self that found the courage from nowhere to take on the mighty AFSPA. AFSPA was passed way back in 1958 and later amended in 1972. It was a lift-off, with modifications, from the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Ordinance 1942 of British India. Only in its present form, it is much harsher than the Ordinance. AFSPA was created to suppress civil society, curb dissent, and legitimise state violence. As Khatoli Khala, a social activist informs us, “logic demanded that an India that fought against such powers would, when independent, get rid of such legislation. Events, however, have proved the contrary.” Parliamentary debates bear testimony to the fact that when the Honourable Home Minister brought this bill to the floor in 1958 even the speaker was shocked. He said “Does the Honourable Minister feel that this is the procedure? He can shoot if it is a disturbed area and that is the procedure established by law? He can shoot [italics added].” Yet the Act was passed without a single amendment suggested from the floor. Women from most of Northeast India are unanimous in their opinion that in terms of brutality the Act surpasses all others by severely militarizing the region and unleashing an unforeseen culture of rape and relentless repression. That women’s reaction to AFSPA was not a product of feminine hysteria was proven by another event that took place in Manipur in 2004. In the early hours of July 11 a young woman named Thangjam Manorama was allegedly raped, tortured and murdered by members of the Assam Rifles. Protest against AFSPA immediately took the character of a mass uprising. The Meira Paibies were in the forefront of this protest. They created an assemblage of protesting organisation called Apunba Lup that was responsible for the spectacular naked protest of middle-aged women in front of the Kangla Fort carrying placards that said “Indian Army Rape Us.”. Among all these events Sharmila Chanu resurfaced as a symbol of respectable protest and hope. Her Gandhian ways convinced many that even if all others fail Sharmila will succeed. That happened way back in 2004. By 2012 women in India faced many new realities from which violence was never far removed. The December 2012 events in Delhi once again triggered debates over women and violence. The complexity of the situation was confirmed when even the Verma Committee was unable to address the issue of AFSPA and its effects on women. Also, the new rape laws failed to address the question of rape with impunity by the armed forces. There were those, such as myself, who argued that to understand violence against women in the Indian mainland one needs to hark back to the violence faced by women in Northeast India and investigate if there is a continuum between what is happening for decades to women in Northeast India to what is happening to women in rest of the country today. Irom Sharmila resurfaced in our conversation as the symbol of women’s activism in Northeast. But in Northeast India, new and somewhat disturbing realities were emerging. My visit to Northeast in 2013 brought those realities starkly to the forefront of my consciousness and writings for which I was censured by some. We had heard that for the last one decade the Government of India was making targeted policies of development that would particularly benefit the women of Northeast. The women were also embarking on a new diplomacy, siding sometimes with their erstwhile allies, and at other times with their previous antagonists. Many were shocked when the Naga Mothers' Association (NMA) brought a case against the HoHos because they were denied 33 % representation. Old alliances over self-determination were crumbling and a new crop of women’s leadership was emerging. There were many like me who looked at these events with concern and wondered if the state machinery was finally succeeding in their appropriation of women’s voices. With Sharmila’s ending of her legendary fast, some say that we have come to the last act of that play. I, however, feel that in this case, the truth might be somewhat different. Sharmila is an extremely skillful political actor who has understood that for any change hereafter she needs a new arsenal. In much of Northeast India people have become conscious that they can no longer shun electoral politics as an alien process. To make changes women need to appropriate all space, albeit even the ones considered “dirty”. For now, we should take the political activist by her word. Sharmila has always shown courage and more so now than before by coming out of a safe cocoon in the face of great opposition by those she considers her own, and challenging that the only respectable mode of protest for women is fasting. Instead of shunning her we ought to agree that there is no one way to peace. Perhaps the conundrum is not so much hers but ours. Why are we so comfortable for a woman to be a symbol and so disturbed when she wants to be an agentive actor?

Sharmila Chanu: Beacon of Hope or Symbol of Betrayal?

A bomb blast was reported at the gate of Manipur University in Imphal today afternoon, making it the second such incident in the state capital of northeastern Manipur in a day. 
 
Earlier in the day, a seven-year old child was injured in an IED blast near a Border security Force (BSF) camp while playing nearby at Moirang Purel village.&nbsp; 
 
The child has been rushed to a hospital in Imphal, an officer said. BSF and armed state police cordoned off the area. 
 
As per reports, the blast was set off by local militants active in the region.The number of injured is likely to increase. 
 
Earlier on Monday, two BSF personnel were on injured when three powerful bombs exploded at Kangpokpi in Manipur`s Senapati district. No organisation or individual has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack so far.&nbsp; 
 
Security forces deployed in Manipur are on alert ahead of Independence Day. Underground outfits operating in the entire northeast region, including the state, have been boycotting the Independence day celebration for several years, said an officer of the state home department.&nbsp; 
 
(Agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Hours after a seven-year-old was injured in a hamlet in Imphal in a bomb attack, another blast was reported at Manipur University

A bomb blast was reported at the gate of Manipur University in Imphal today afternoon, making it the second such incident in the state capital of northeastern Manipur in a day. Earlier in the day, a seven-year old child was injured in an IED blast near a Border security Force (BSF) camp while playing nearby at Moirang Purel village. The child has been rushed to a hospital in Imphal, an officer said. BSF and armed state police cordoned off the area. As per reports, the blast was set off by local militants active in the region.The number of injured is likely to increase. Earlier on Monday, two BSF personnel were on injured when three powerful bombs exploded at Kangpokpi in Manipur`s Senapati district. No organisation or individual has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack so far. Security forces deployed in Manipur are on alert ahead of Independence Day. Underground outfits operating in the entire northeast region, including the state, have been boycotting the Independence day celebration for several years, said an officer of the state home department. (Agencies)

Twin bomb attacks in northeast India's Imphal, 1 injured

Indian human rights activist Irom Sharmila ended a 16-year hunger strike -- thought to be the world&#39;s longest -- today to stand for election.&nbsp; 
 
Here are five things to know about the woman known as the &quot;Iron Lady of Manipur&quot;. 
 
Who is Irom Sharmila? 
 
The 44-year-old poet and activist was born in a small village in the remote and insurgency-wracked northeast Indian state of Manipur. She belongs to the Meitei ethnic group who dominate Manipur. 
 
She began fasting in 2000 after allegedly witnessing the army kill 10 people at a bus stop near her home. 
 
She has been held in judicial custody almost ever since, and has spent much of the last 16 years confined to a hospital ward. 
 
What is her hunger strike about? 
 
She is campaigning for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur, a remote and impoverished Indian state that is home to a number of separatist insurgent groups. 
 
The controversial act allows India&#39;s security forces to shoot on sight and arrest anybody without a warrant and is in force in Indian-administered Kashmir and across much of the northeast. 
 
Last month the Supreme Court ordered an investigation into the use of &quot;excessive and retaliatory&quot; force by police and the military in Manipur. 
 
How has she been kept alive? 
 
She has been force-fed via a nasal drip in hospital. Images taken when she emerges from hospital to make one of her frequent court appearances in Manipur show her looking emaciated and frail, with plastic tubes taped to her nose. 
 
What will she do next? 
 
She plans to stand for office in upcoming state elections in Manipur and continue her fight through politics for the repeal of the AFSPA. She has said she will stand as an independent candidate. 
 
She has also said she intends to marry her fiance, a British national of Indian origin, whom she has corresponded with by letter. 
 
How much support does she have? 
 
Amnesty International declared her a Prisoner of Conscience in 2013 and she has received several prestigious international prizes, including a lifetime achievement award from the Asian Human Rights Commission. 
 
But support in her home state has waned and in recent years she has hinted at her frustration with this. 
 
Some in Manipur have criticised her choice of partner because he is from outside the state, with one insurgent group threatening to kill her if she marries him. 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

She began her hunger strike in 2000 after allegedly witnessing the army kill 10 people at a bus stop near her home.

Indian human rights activist Irom Sharmila ended a 16-year hunger strike -- thought to be the world's longest -- today to stand for election. Here are five things to know about the woman known as the "Iron Lady of Manipur". Who is Irom Sharmila? The 44-year-old poet and activist was born in a small village in the remote and insurgency-wracked northeast Indian state of Manipur. She belongs to the Meitei ethnic group who dominate Manipur. She began fasting in 2000 after allegedly witnessing the army kill 10 people at a bus stop near her home. She has been held in judicial custody almost ever since, and has spent much of the last 16 years confined to a hospital ward. What is her hunger strike about? She is campaigning for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur, a remote and impoverished Indian state that is home to a number of separatist insurgent groups. The controversial act allows India's security forces to shoot on sight and arrest anybody without a warrant and is in force in Indian-administered Kashmir and across much of the northeast. Last month the Supreme Court ordered an investigation into the use of "excessive and retaliatory" force by police and the military in Manipur. How has she been kept alive? She has been force-fed via a nasal drip in hospital. Images taken when she emerges from hospital to make one of her frequent court appearances in Manipur show her looking emaciated and frail, with plastic tubes taped to her nose. What will she do next? She plans to stand for office in upcoming state elections in Manipur and continue her fight through politics for the repeal of the AFSPA. She has said she will stand as an independent candidate. She has also said she intends to marry her fiance, a British national of Indian origin, whom she has corresponded with by letter. How much support does she have? Amnesty International declared her a Prisoner of Conscience in 2013 and she has received several prestigious international prizes, including a lifetime achievement award from the Asian Human Rights Commission. But support in her home state has waned and in recent years she has hinted at her frustration with this. Some in Manipur have criticised her choice of partner because he is from outside the state, with one insurgent group threatening to kill her if she marries him. (AFP)

Who is Irom?

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