MANIPUR-Incipient Ferment

MANIPUR is passing through a political crisis. The local political parties arc agitating for full statehood. Their argument is that there is no reason why Manipur, which has a long history of monarchic government behind it, should not get full statehood when neighbouring Nagaland is enjoying it. The Naga and Mizo elements of the population are no doubt showing a desire to secede from Manipur and join Nagaland and the Mizoram district, respectively. This is partly because the administration has failed to develop the hill areas. The local Press at Imphal is replete with complaints of regional imbalance in industrial progress and of the absence of a comprehensive plan to develop the south-eastern belt comprising Manipur, Nagaland, Ncfa and Tripura. "Only Nagaland out of the economically backward areas", complains Manipur Times, "has been able to hold the banner of industrial progress with its two industries