Imphal, July 8: The tremors caused by the downsizing exercise in Manipur are being felt the most in the two Naga-dominated districts of Chandel and Ukhrul, both of which have not been represented in the new-look Okram Ibobi Singh-led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government. Before Ibobi Singh trimmed his ministry, Ukhrul had a representative in A. Aza, who was the minister for youth affairs and sports. Chandel, adjoining Myanmar, had D.K. Korungthang, who was the minister of state (with independent charge) for social welfare.
Neither was retained, much to the annoyance of residents of the two districts. Sources said a prolonged agitation was on the cards, considering the cries of betrayal echoing across the hills.
The chief minister has appointed Aza the chairperson of the Khadi and Village Industries Board, which is considered a plum post, in a bid to pacify the people of Ukhrul.
Likewise, he has named Korungthang as the chairperson of the Manipur Tribal Development Corporation. However, neither move seems to have worked.
In a joint memorandum to Ibobi Singh, several tribal organisations of Chandel said they could not believe he overlooked the district while downsizing the ministry.
Describing the chief minister?s decision to blank out both hill districts as ?discriminatory?, the organisations said they would not take it lying down. ?Dropping the lone minister from Chandel was an insult to the people of the district, considering the fact that most of the other districts have two ministers each, while Imphal East has three ministers.?
The tribal groups said the process of mobilising public opinion against the allegedly skewed composition of the ministry had already begun and Ibobi Singh would be held responsible for any untoward incident arising out of an agitation.
Chandel has two Assembly constituencies, one of which has a BJP legislator.
A source said Aza yesterday asked Ibobi Singh during a meeting of the SPF constituents if he thought Ukhrul and Chandel were no longer a part of Manipur.
Ukhrul residents A. Shirik and L. Phungdhar aired similar views. The duo said the omission of the two former ministers from the downsized government smacked of a sinister ploy.
?Talking of integrity is fine, but one should remember that emotional integrity precedes territorial integrity. Sidelining any section of people in the exercise is inviting trouble,? Shirik warned.
Congress legislator Wungnaoshang Keishing, who was dropped from the ministry last year on grounds of his involvement in anti-party activities, represents one of the three Assembly constituencies of Ukhrul.
Ibobi Singh completed the downsizing process on Tuesday, a day before the deadline. He left for New Delhi yesterday to finalise the reallocation of portfolios in consultation with the Congress high command.