Arunachal lives on razor edge Amar Sangno Once Lord George Curzon, the influential Viceroy of British India from 1899 to 1905, called frontier between India and Qing Dynasty controlled-Tibet (what is today Arunachal Pradesh), “a razor edge” tripwire separating war and peace, life and death. Lord Curzon termed it from geographical point of view considering the region’s landscape. Seemingly, Arunachal is currently living on a razor’s edge ever since the Tarasso incident which happened last Wednesday. It has become, “no entry zone” at least for the surface communication after some Assam-based groups backed by Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist (CPI-ML) have been resorting to economic blockade against Arunachal. However, business community of the Capital Complex clarified that there is no shortage of essential commodities so far in Itanagar. They further said that the Arunachalee people are being reportedly targeted in some locations on National highway in Assam by the agitating mob. Chief Minister Nabam Tuki’s announcement of ex-gratia Rs 3 lakhs to each of the deceased and Rs 50 thousand for injured does not budge the agitating people in Assam. Sources informed that there are numerous self-erected barricades along National Highway 52, in order to detect Arunachalee passengers. The Tarasso incident has become blot for Arunachal even before an independent enquiry committee is set up to ascertain the facts of the perpetrators involved in it, as few Guwahati based electronic media went on claiming that miscreants were from Arunachal. However, it would be utterly unwise to blame either side for the incident or leap to childish conclusion, as slight budge could, of course, jeopardize the vulnerable age-old peaceful relation of two inseparable sister states in the region. The protesters in Assam yet to properly define, the term “economic blockade” but Arunachal feels the heat in such a proportion that it is difficult to find its feet on ground. Backlash of Tarasso incident perceptibly paralyzed the entire state in terms of road communication and is driving the state into woozy. The essential commodities price are sky rocketing, petrol depots gone dry and there is surprise rise of tempo and trekker fare at Capital. In other words, economic blockade spawns blooming business for the certain sections in the state, as people are frantically buying no matter whatever price they are being verbally told by the shopkeepers. There are reports of people (sports persons, medical patients and common men) stranded at Guwahati airports, waiting for airlift. But alas! Pawan Hans Helicopter service appears to be VIPs’ private jet. It is said deputy resident commissioner (DRC) Guwahati is allegedly prioritizing the seats exclusively for so- called very important persons, overlooking the other passengers’ fundamental rights. Apparently the term economic blockade has become a “blackmailing tool” for few vested groups in Assam who loosely define it by experimenting on their neighbouring states e.g. Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Meghalaya on mere argument, skirmish and road mishaps. These groups know how to tighten noose around neighbouring state’s neck , as CPI-ML is now doing on Arunachal and putting the state under compulsion to compromise overlooking the Supreme Court-appointed three members Boundary Commission’s recommendation which clearly says that 70-80 per cent of the disputed land between Assam-Arunachal should be given back to Arunachal. Surprisingly, our politicians prefer to watch the entire show from distance and maintaining stoic silence over the developments, instead of ringing the bell on centre government’s ear for early intervention. Considering the communication bottle neck, Is it high time for our people representatives to hell-bent on the India’s faulty Look East Policy and lobby with the Centre for opening of the trade routes to China and Myanmar? Or call for expediting of Trans-Arunachal High Way to realize inter-districts road connectivity dream without touching Assam. Because the stability in Arunachal largely depends on the avoidance of conflict with Assam (conflict here refers to ideas and argument). Moreover the relation between two sisterly states is seemingly getting uneasy day by day with myriad challenges ever since the vexed boundary disputes cropped up. According to former BJP MP Kiren Rijiju, India’s Look East Policy is incomplete without linking trade route with China and Myanmar. He also said that trade route with these two countries is only way out to get freedom from anti-Arunachal elements in Assam. Let’s be optimistic this time that the Centre would pay heed to crying baby.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 04:30:12 +0000
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