Tag: Editorial

A brawl among the hostellers of the National Institute of Technology, Imphal has snowballed into an issue. The media in particular has been charged for magnifying the issue. This is indeed true, for some of the national media operating outside the State, both print and electronic, went overboard while reporting the incident. A glance at some of the reports carried by ‘reputed’ and ‘reliable’ national newspapers have mostly been biased. Without any effort of ascertaining the facts and the circumstances that led to the incident, these newspapers had relied on telephonic conversation with some non-locals students, who claimed themselves to be victims of ‘terror assault’ by local students and police. The newspapers have even reported that the lives of non-local students are at peril, and that they are in constant fear. It is doubtful why the national media has not bothered to cross-check the claims made by the non-local students, either from the hostel authority or from other sources for a balanced view on the incident. With the kind of digital connectivity that we have in the country, the national media cannot give the alibi that they do not have any means or contacts to ascertain the facts of the incident. NIT being a national institute for imparting quality technical higher education can easily grab media attention, for anything that happens in the institute; and even more so when an incident like the recent one takes place. Regrettably, the national media has been outrageously careless while reporting the incident. Prof.  Y. S. Rajan, chairman of the Board of Governors of NIT Imphal, have rightly put that insensible reporting by the media could have serious repercussions; even to the extent of triggering communal unrest among the students in educational campuses elsewhere in the country. A scenario of that kind is never welcomed. On the other hand, the NIT Imphal authority should not take an uninitiated stance of shying away from the media. The authorities who are the immediate guardian of the students inside the campus should not have wasted time to clarify the doubts that have been created by the national media. However, the State administration must be acknowledged for their timely intervention into the matter. We sincerely hope that the campus will once again come alive with academic vibrancy. What is required without delay is to bring back the sense of security among the non-local students. The presence of security forces inside the hostel campus can only serve a limited purpose. A better option, in the long run, would be to initiate dialogue among the students. NIT authorities should not leave any stone unturned to facilitate healthy interaction among its students.
Scuffle among students is not uncommon in a campus life. The stress and storms of adolescence, growing up to an ever unfolding world, are bound to have frictions and sparks. It is imperative that these sparks do not gain ignition.  As reported, a minor incident of scuffle in the hostel took an ugly turn, when some outsiders, supposedly local hoodlums attacked a few non-local students outside the campus. Those hoodlums were apparently taking advantage of the current ILP movement. Let the incident remind our esteemed leaders of the movement that the meaning of ‘illegal immigrant’ can be misinterpreted to spew xenophobic venom on any non-local.

Leader Writer: Senate Kh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/time-to-reconcile-for-nitians/

There cannot be no denying of the fact that social networking sites have brought about a huge socio-cultural change in the personal and sometimes, political space. With a ‘what’s on your mind’ question that almost begs for an instant answer whose ‘likes’ or added on comments seen as opinion shaping or debate triggers, these sites have not only laid bare personal footprints of people online but also led to spaces for conflict, abuse and spewing venom. This is not to say that social networking sites do not have its benefits. Ask disgruntled consumers who have resorted to airing their grievances in public on online forums and they would tell you that more than a private complaint mechanism it is the more public complaints on social networking sites that got them the desired result. Additionally, in a not so long ago period, organizing an event involved physically sending out invitations but here again, those logged onto social networking sites will be familiar with online invitations that are replacing conventional ones through ‘event pages’ that also updates the course of things, thereby keeping those who miss being present to know about proceedings as they happen.

In a constantly connected world today, the constant demand for what is called a ‘status update’ or a peek into what one is thinking/reading/hearing/going where is leading to a breakdown in interpersonal communication according to various studies. This hardly looks far-fetched as longer durations of online presence means shutting out the real world with many relationship counsellors holding online activities for a contributing factor in the breakdown of marriages and relationships. The footprint of the online world has impacted the nature of the functioning of the media too and even shaped news flow or how events unfold. The Mumbai terror attacks in which anti-terror operations at the Taj Hotel were being beamed live on TV and updates on social networking sites is a classic example of how constant news feed and live updates botched up relief measures and impacted security measures. But the impact of constant mentions online is such that new age media practitioners are in fact being encouraged to use more and more online resources and to stay connected. Just recently, a hugely popular national newspaper got a whole lot of criticism flung their way when it came out that the management had asked its reporters and other staff to submit their account passwords so as to enable more posts about its news output. There are other equally hard to believe but true stories of national media houses that lay emphasis on the number of followers a potential employee has on the social networking sites or the one that makes it mandatory for journalists to make a mention on the agency’s news outputs on a daily basis without fail.

Of equal cause for concern is the tendency for various online forums to trigger off wild speculations. Many will say that the internet and its various social networking sites is a powerful medium to exchange viewpoints and trigger discussions, chart out plan of actions etc. On the flip side however, this same medium brings in its share of negativity and constant abuse when someone’s viewpoint is not acceptable to the other. This is clearly seen from the sheer number of people who use fake names who make life miserable for those with whom they do not agree which is not to say that people who use their real names do not get into abusing people online either through constant nitpicking or scoffing at someone’s opinion. A visit to the various web sites with a Manipur connect is a prime example of the nature and level of discussions, many of which are vitriolic in nature and extremely prejudiced; a pointer that even as we continue to be connected, there is a greater disconnect in our interactions with one another.

Leader Writer: Chitra Ahanthem

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/disconnect-in-connectivity/

While there has been disapproval from different quarters over the indefinite economic blockade called by the United Naga Council along the highways of the State, there are also quarters that have deemed the UNC’s action as fit to be exercised during war time against a warring enemy. The State government has declared indefinite holiday for all educational institutes following the general strike called by the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit system on September 10. As reported, the strike was effective, bringing life almost to a standstill. The evening of the strike saw women meira paibis staging protest demonstrations in different pockets of the valley. Having witnessed added energy in the current movement of ILP demand, the State anticipates the movement gaining more momentum, with more demonstrations in the streets, and particularly students participating in large number. Therefore, the authorities preemptively closed down all educational institutes indefinitely. This is not the first time that the authorities have closed down schools and colleges anticipating protest demonstration by students. There have been a few instances earlier.  But to declare holiday indefinitely ‘until further notice’ is as bizarre as the indefinite blockade. True, that students have been at the forefront of the ILP movement, and without their participation the movement would not have gained so much power. IFP has been critical about fervid participation of young students who are not in the position to grasp the issue or the demand. It appears that those young students participated more out of compulsion, bereft of conscience and consent. What is even more disturbing is the cozy silence and abstention of those students who are in higher echelons of learning.
Are the authorities going to close down the institutes whenever there is a movement or an agitation? Indications are that the current movement is not going to settle down soon. Will the schools and colleges remain closed until the movement comes to an end? Here, it is worthwhile to recall the 2009 Khwairamband alleged fake encounter killing of Chungkham Sanjit and Thokchom Rabina, following which educational institutes were closed down for four months as part of the protest by civil societies, demanding resignation of the Chief Minister and punishment of the culprits. A legal battle is still underway regarding the incident, but the CM did never resigned. The CM had at that time asserted that right to education is more important than right to life.  Those four months impasse between the agitators and the government was a heavy loss to the student community. It not only affected their studies, but also bound to have had a detrimental impact on their psycho-social growth. A practical way forward for the authorities would be to re-educate the law enforcers, more particularly in crowd control. This would be a better option instead of getting weak-kneed in advance. On the other hand, those in the movement should not lost focus of the larger issue. While raising demands, there should be room for reconciliation as well. We feel that the committee of all political parties headed by the deputy CM has a significant role to play. The committee should seriously try to reach out to the JCILP leaders, and open out ways and means to put the issue of ILP and other demands to a higher level of engagement. News has arrived that the indefinite economic blockade has been lifted. The news of the reopening of the institutes should also not tarry.

Leader Writer: Senate Kh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/reopen-the-schools-and-colleges/

Intolerance and intimidation has apparently become tactical weapon of any movement in the State. Social movements have certain goals. The goals of a movement do have a strong relation with its ideology, its guiding principles.  History of any social, political movements teaches us that without an ideology, any kind of movement is no better than street hooliganism. Socio-political movements, by its nature, are collective actions which spring largely from the aspirations of members with requisite level of commitment and activism. At the same time, a movement should not be confused with spontaneous mass upheaval of people. Rather a movement should be a planned, coordinated action in pursuit of a recognised social goal. In the context of Manipur, it is indeed unfortunate that those in the helms of movement seem to have ignored the fact that not everyone sees the world with the same eyes. All of us look at the world through a veil of differing presuppositions and assumptions. In this sense, even observations and, not only interpretations are bound to be different from one another. Yet, it is also important to recognise that these differences are very much a part of the social debate. Those in the movement should learn to walk with the debate. For that matter, a political view or opinion that one may have cannot enjoy the eminence of sacrosanctity. All our views and opinions are subjected to conflict at the ideational level. To withstand and come across the conflict, one needs inherited ideas, generated ideas but most importantly certain openness. The same benchmark is equally relevant at the organisation level. It is true that poverty of idea leads to intolerance. Therefore, when one does not have the means to debate at the ideational level, the tendency of overruling a divergent view by intimidation becomes a handy weapon. Looking at the present patterns of organisational behavior, it is apparent that those in the helms of movement have shut themselves off from any divergent views. Alone and isolated, without the support of the people, a movement is vulnerable to alienation and disillusionment. Such situation demands of the activist a serious introspection on his role and conduct. The activists have failed to understand that their actions, their words and their efforts have an institutional character. They have to be in gear with the larger organisational mechanism. With all due respect to their commitments and sacrifices, a true dialogue with the mass, particularly on their conduct, is called for. If not, the historical task of democratic mobilisation for their movement will remain a long-haul task. The beginning of action in that direction should be through self-introspection. Ideological foundation should be the guiding light in every step of an organisation. In this connection, a question may be posed, whether our social organisations have surrendered their ideologies. We hope that it is not the case. There is still hope if we are ready to replenish and invigorate our movements by accommodating dissenting views. And let it begin in no time.

Leader Writer: Senate Kh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/rethinking-movement/

Off and on, we hear of various instances in the state with regard to impurities being found in packaged drinking water and other forms of processed food like biscuits, cakes and bakery items. These reported cases are but a small fraction of the tough reality that the food we eat is not safe. Earlier, the state government sent out public notifications over the ban of various food products entering the state from Myanmar and followed it up with raids on shops selling such items as canned fish with no indications of contents and ingredients used. However, things have turned right back to square one with the banned articles making their appearance in the consumable food market. There is no denying that a whole lot of unsavory practices continue in the food market sector all across the country with buyers putting in a range of additives that are not meant to be added at all to food consumable products and using underhand practices to make food more appealing to consumers. To cite an example, a report by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) a few years back found that most of the country’s milk was being watered down or adulterated with products ranging from fertilizer, bleach and detergent which were being used to make milk thick and give it a white, frothy look that would entice consumers to buy them.

Incidentally, the FSSAI was only instituted in 2006 to look into and take action over matters related to the quality of food products in the country and is still plagued with an acute shortage of human resources and technical apparatus needed for the task at hand. While the FSSAI has undertaken various studies and drives at times, they are far too less with more attention on the macro level rather than tackling what happens at the micro level in the numerous eating joints and markets that dot the country. To start with the issue of food safety at the micro level, it is a known fact that road-side hotels use left-over oil or mix in used tea leaves with new ones to cut their costs all over the country. Graduating a bit further, fruits and vegetables are often laced with calcium carbide to make them appear shining and fresh. With the transportation process of vegetables and fruits taking a long haul on roads and sometimes crossing numerous states and region, it is an open secret that when starting out, raw fruits and vegetables are loaded in along with chemicals to keep them from rotting. Once they reach their intended destination, another round of chemical brush up takes place to make them appear fresh and colorful.

In Manipur, the revelations of substandard quality food products or those being sold against their shelf life have been brought to public notice by an array of vigilante cum social groups. While the overall message on food safety concern is laudable, it would be wise to be suspicious of the ‘go back outsider’ agenda for many who have been targeted, happen to be non-locals selling the said goods. This is not to condone the practice of selling products beyond their shelf life but to point out that such drives should be not on the identity of people selling them but to put a plug on unsafe items being sold to the public. After all, there is yet to any action being taken up with regard to how fish are being fermented to give the staple ingredient of every Manipuri household: Ngari, when it is common knowledge yet again that the procedures involved are not hygienic or quality controlled. If food safety is to be the core issue as it should be, there needs to be a serious attempt with the Government agency leading from the front and supported by various stakeholders including civil society groups. The Government agencies would have to spread awareness among the general public and sensitize shopkeepers and warehouse staff that food products that have reached their shelf life or expiry dates should not reach the public and keep a check on food items are being stored as unscientific storage systems can also harm food and food products. The public on their part should not take the matter of raiding shops and godowns and seizing items but be alert by checking manufacturing information, expiry dates and notify the authorities.

Leader Writer: Chitra Ahanthem

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/ensuring-food-safety/

Students and teachers throughout the nation woke up on Friday morning to a different form of Teachers’ Day celebration. Since 1962, India has been celebrating Teachers’ Day on September 5, the birthday of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second President of India. Thursday saw schools rushing to give finishing touches to their preparations for the Teachers’ Day celebration, although the preparations were not just for festivities but for a speech to be delivered by the Prime Minister. School authorities were directed to ensure their students’ presence in the school premises during the Prime Minister’s speech on Teachers’ Day to be telecasted live on national TV. School authorities or rather the school heads of all government, aided and private schools including those under the district councils were directed to strictly adhere to the instructions provided to ensure necessary arrangements for TVs in their school campuses and to submit photographs and compliance reports of the said programme to the concerned authorities before 5.30pm of the same day. The Prime Minister’s speech was telecasted from 3 pm to 4:45 pm and included an interaction session of the Prime Minister with students of selected schools from across the country. This is a first for teachers and students of the entire nation, to be addressed directly by the head of the country on Teachers’ Day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again managed to catch the attention of the entire nation with this endeavour. He has sort of achieved a feat even if a small one with his address to the students of the country. The concept is noteworthy, and many would construe it as an earnest attempt to motivate students who are the future of the country. At the same time, it could raise quite a few eyebrows as well.

The Prime Minister gave his speech in Hindi which doesn’t enjoy the same acceptance in the States lying in the north eastern or southern regions of the country as it does in the northern States. For the sake of argument, the entire insight of the Prime Minister’s speech could be lost in translation to the students of the first two regions who are mostly unfamiliar with the language. This would well be the same case, even if the teachers attending to the students were enterprising enough to attempt translating the speech. And in such a case, the students would have returned home only with the false sense of watching the Prime Minister address to them directly through the TV, without understanding much of the speech and its content.

At the same time, in States like Manipur where schools lack even basic amenities and infrastructure, asking students to sit through an entire speech, however motivating the speech is, could be quiet quixotic. Students protesting lack of amenities in their schools are frequent fixtures in the State. On September 4, as schools in the entire length and breadth of the country were busy giving final touches to their preparation for the D-Day, students of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School were busy protesting and facing police lathi-charge as was reported in the local papers. And this is not a solitary case.

The end-point being, now that the Prime Minister has created a niche for himself among the student community of the country; it is time for him to look into the real problems the students face and improve the facilities provided in the schools.
Leader Writer: Wangkheimayum Bhupendra Singh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/modi-and-his-teachers-day-in-manipur-2/

Students and teachers throughout the nation woke up on Friday morning to a different form of Teachers’ Day celebration. Since 1962, India has been celebrating Teachers’ Day on September 5, the birthday of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second President of India. Thursday saw schools rushing to give finishing touches to their preparations for the Teachers’ Day celebration, although the preparations were not just for festivities but for a speech to be delivered by the Prime Minister. School authorities were directed to ensure their students’ presence in the school premises during the Prime Minister’s speech on Teachers’ Day to be telecasted live on national TV. School authorities or rather the school heads of all government, aided and private schools including those under the district councils were directed to strictly adhere to the instructions provided to ensure necessary arrangements for TVs in their school campuses and to submit photographs and compliance reports of the said programme to the concerned authorities before 5.30pm of the same day. The Prime Minister’s speech was telecasted from 3 pm to 4:45 pm and included an interaction session of the Prime Minister with students of selected schools from across the country. This is a first for teachers and students of the entire nation, to be addressed directly by the head of the country on Teachers’ Day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again managed to catch the attention of the entire nation with this endeavour. He has sort of achieved a feat even if a small one with his address to the students of the country. The concept is noteworthy, and many would construe it as an earnest attempt to motivate students who are the future of the country. At the same time, it could raise quite a few eyebrows as well.

The Prime Minister gave his speech in Hindi which doesn’t enjoy the same acceptance in the States lying in the north eastern or southern regions of the country as it does in the northern States. For the sake of argument, the entire insight of the Prime Minister’s speech could be lost in translation to the students of the first two regions who are mostly unfamiliar with the language. This would well be the same case, even if the teachers attending to the students were enterprising enough to attempt translating the speech. And in such a case, the students would have returned home only with the false sense of watching the Prime Minister address to them directly through the TV, without understanding much of the speech and its content.

At the same time, in States like Manipur where schools lack even basic amenities and infrastructure, asking students to sit through an entire speech, however motivating the speech is, could be quiet quixotic. Students protesting lack of amenities in their schools are frequent fixtures in the State. On September 4, as schools in the entire length and breadth of the country were busy giving final touches to their preparation for the D-Day, students of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School were busy protesting and facing police lathi-charge as was reported in the local papers. And this is not a solitary case.

The end-point being, now that the Prime Minister has created a niche for himself among the student community of the country; it is time for him to look into the real problems the students face and improve the facilities provided in the schools.
Leader Writer: Wangkheimayum Bhupendra Singh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/modi-and-his-teachers-day-in-manipur/

It is surprising that there is not a single day these days when the BSNL provided internet services are working with the optimum bandwidth they were touted to be capable of when they were introduced. In fact, there must be more hours in a week when the internet lines are completely down and unusable than they are functional. This would be true of all the wide arrays of internet access modes provided by the BSNL, including its land line broadband service, the WLL wireless service and the Wi-Max wireless service, which are no doubt, state-of-the-art technology. Demonstrated in the process is the much cited adage that often stories of human advancements and achievements are much less about technology than commitment of the men behind the machines.

The story is unfortunate in an age when the premium for the paradigm of development is placed heavily on connectivity, both in the physical terms defined by roads, bridges, railways and airways, but equally by non physical communication facilities of which the internet and cell phones must rank as the foremost. Indeed, to modern ways of life, professions and businesses, the airwaves, both of telephony and internet, are next only to oxygen and water in importance, metaphorically speaking. Nothing can move at the pace the modern world demands if these facilities are not guaranteed.

So what ails the BSNL in Manipur, the giant public sector corporation which handles this important responsibility? This is the million dollar question which needs to be answered urgently. Private players, though not as resourceful, are doing much better. This is despite the fact that these private players also have to depend on the BSNL, and in many ways are only re-distributers of facilities available only with the BSNL. One broad answer that applies to all public sector undertakings, and government departments probably applies here too. The difference then is, while the private players are driven by profit motive the government sector is run on taxpayers money. The former are acutely accountable to their jobs, for on their ability to sell their services are premised their lifelines, unlike in the government sector where this accountability is practically missing and jobs are hardly dependent on performance. It is no wonder that government jobs are prized in income scarce economies like Manipur.

The stories that do the rounds these days are that mobile and internet networks of the BSNL are poor because staff manning their relay stations leave their machines and generators off for long periods to siphon off fuels which they then sell off in the black market. Those in businesses which need these fuels and lubricants to run their own machines know too well for instance that other than the packed and sealed market brands of lubricants, there are also “tower”nicknamed lubricants, which the vendors claim are superior than even the market brands and sold for a slightly heavier premium. By “tower”they of course mean the mobile and internet signal relay substations. How has this come about? Should not the BSNL authorities look into this matter?

When mobile phone service came to Manipur for the first time about two decades ago, there was only the BSNL. The same can be said of internet service. The corporation then virtually had the monopoly over these services, and when private players were allowed to enter the market a decade after it did, it had a clear head start in the market. Yet, in the decade that followed, there has been an exodus of subscribers from the BSNL to the private players. In medieval Japan, this would have been the cause for scores of hara-kiri at all levels of the organisation. In the modern private sector corporate world too, this would have meant heads of top executives rolling. In the government sectors however, this it seems is nothing to worry about. Jobs remain as secure in their mediocre best. Salaries continue to climb periodically with clockwork precision, promotion avenues for entire careers are already pre-drafted and every employee more or less knows from the time they joined their professions where they would likely be in the hierarchy of their organisations at the end of their careers, so why try mend anything? As a matter of fact, as the “tower”oil making it into the retail market is evidence, there are many who would rather try and make some extra buck than give their everything to their chosen professions. It would not be a surprise at all if in the ascendence of private parties in the airwaves business in the state, there are “match fixers”who made, and are making, a pile in clearing the way for these private businesses. We hope the BSNL authorities hear this wakeup call.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/internet-woes/

The outrage over the tragic Ukhrul incident in which two young men died in police firing on Sunday was understandably expected not to vanish overnight. Sure enough, the United Naga Council, UNC, at whose rally the fatal fracas erupted, has called a blockade of all State and National highways which pass through Naga areas, although under the different name of ban on vehicular traffic. And as has become wont of habitual blockade callers in the State, this one too is going to be indefinite. Manipur must once again brace up for another spell of lean times, in particular of commodities not available in the State, the most prominently visible of which will once again become evident sooner than later, is gasoline. Thankfully, the most essential of essential commodities, that of rice, is grown everywhere in the State, most abundantly in the valley. The blockade therefore will translate into extreme inconveniences for the larger public, but little or no starvation. Had the latter been the case, the eruption of anger and the violence which it would probably have come with, is frightening to imagine. But it is a foregone conclusion that once again nerves will be under severe test, and if schools and colleges, hospitals and dispensaries, begin to shut because the transport systems have dripped dry of fuel, that would be when the danger of nerves snapping become the threat.

It was criminal for the trigger happy Manipur police to use live bullets in crowd control, and the outrage over the death of the two young men is perfectly legitimate, and as the outpour of condemnations is testimony, this outrage is universal. This anger would even have seen a highway blockade or bandh as justified, and probably everybody in the State, regardless of community or religion would have wholeheartedly supported it. Bandhs and blockades happen all the time in Manipur as its people so well know. But when this blockade is indefinite, it acquires a different visage. In international law, this is an act of war, and here too, in the worst case scenario, it can cause civil wars. Let the blockade protest therefore be conditional and time bound, and rest assured, the blockade callers will have the solidarity of everybody in the state.

In a way, these are litmus tests for those who still stubbornly cling on to past ideas of sovereignty. These are times of cooperation and interdependence and not one of isolation and segregation. Centuries ago, when the population was small, and needs, aspirations and expectations of the people were limited, Manipur’s then economy was adequate to meet these collective dreams and therefore it could afford to live in splendid isolation as it did for most of the time then. Today, this is hardly the condition. A month of blockade can shake up the entire state and put it on the boil as we have seen so many times in the past one decade or so. The definition of sovereignty too has metamorphosed in the meantime. National boundaries continue to become ever the more soft, and in some cases have virtually disappeared, as in the case of many European countries under a single visa regime. The only times these boundaries actually and tangibly show up are in the sporting arenas, and in the case of Europe, football fields. It is time therefore for not just Manipur, but the entire Northeast region to reimagine itself, and in the process, make the necessary efforts to reinvent itself too. Time and tide wait for no man, and the region cannot afford to miss the bus. A crucial decision on this can make or mar its collective future for generations, or maybe forever too. Histories of societies which have crumbled or survived, literature on which is not altogether scarce today, should be the lessons and examples, as it were, for its people to take the cue for their own crucial decisions for the future.

In the meantime, let the Manipur government gather itself and do everything in the cause of justice. Institute a judicial enquiry into the incident. Besides eye witness reports, there are also plenty of video footages available, as is evident on social media and local TV channels. Use these among others to reconstruct what happened and let no guilty person be spared retribution under the law. Let it also explain why it felt it was necessary to clamp prohibitory orders in Ukhrul under CrPC Section 144 for so long, a move which was so sorely resented by the general population of Ukhrul. Was this order on the suggestion of the local administration which knows the ground situation best, or was it superimposed from Imphal. Had this ban order been relaxed on the faithful day and the UNC rally allowed unhindered, as in other Naga majority districts, perhaps the tragedy could have been avoided.

On a lighter note, to draw the most optimistic conclusion, let everybody bring out their bicycles and make them road worthy in preparation for the days ahead without gasoline. This mode of transport will ensure daily physical exercise, save environmental pollution and more immediately, ease the traffic congestion on our roads. Alas, would it not have been such a boon at these trying times to have had a cooking gas bottling plant somewhere near, as was once the plan.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/ukhrul-tragedy-and-after/

If reports of the Union Surface Transport and Shipping Minister having made an assurance to members of the State BJP recently to sanction Rs 15,000 crores for expediting the development works of the national highways in Manipur is true, a report that this local daily was one of the first to carry, then it is good news for the people of this long beleaguered state.

“American roads are not good because America is rich, but America is rich because American roads are good.” This paradoxical yet profound statement attributed to former American President John F Kennedy lays stress on the socio-economic development that developing the infrastructure of roads could achieve. Nitin Gadkari, the Union Transport Minister credited for creating one of India’s first express highways – between Bombay and Pune – and also responsible for the landmark Bandra-Worli sealink project apparently loves to quote this statement.

The National Highways Connectivity Company Ltd (NHCCL) which was set up specifically for upgrading and widening national highways for regional connectivity in the North-east region by the new government at the Centre will start developing the national highways in Manipur on a war footing from October to coincide with the proposed visit of the Union Minister.

Even if it’s too early to say whether the Union Minister will be able to deliver on his promise of completing the development of the highways within six months but he certainly does exude a sense of commitment and urgency to get things done which is entirely missing from politicians of the State.
The proposed completion of the national highways in Manipur by handing over its development to NHCCL from the Border Roads Organisation is welcome but nobody has mentioned anything about the security risks that travelling in these highways pose. The government also must address this security challenge by setting up a Highway Protection Force, an idea which has long been doing the rounds.

Closer home, the building of smooth asphalt district and inter village roads without bumps and potholes is the responsibility of the Public Works Department. Many major thoroughfares in Imphal are in deplorable conditions. They take the appearance of dust bowls in summer and are a nightmare to commuters during the rains. People are so used to this state of affairs that they have forgotten to demand what is rightfully theirs. It is within the powers of the State PWD to rebuild these long dilapidated roads and create better ones. The usual response to such questions is that the government doesn’t have the financial resources to do so. An alibi simpler than that would be hard to find. But we continue to believe our Ministers and elect them back to power again and again.

Now coming back to the Union Transport Minister, a post-graduate in commerce with a law degree and a diploma in business management, he enjoyed the reputation of implementing ambitious projects and completing them before time at extremely low costs during his tenure as the PWD minister in Maharashtra. It is worth asking why is it that our State elects only semi-literate politicians whose idea of being elected representatives don’t go beyond earning a few fast bucks by using the powers bestowed on them.

Leader Writer: Svoboda Kangleicha

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/roads-and-prosperity/

Artificial scarcity of rice created by traders in the State triggered intense agitation by students 49 years ago. The day of August 27, 1965 saw the martyrdom of four students, who took part in the agitation. Every year, the All Manipur Students’ Union has been observing the day as the ‘Chaklam Khongchat Numit’. Artificial scarcity of rice was also the primary reason that triggered the historic 2ndNupilal of 1939 in the State. Today, abject hunger among the population of the State is not something very conspicuous. This rather happy state of affairs is not because food productivity has increased in the State over the years, notwithstanding farmers in the State using high yielding variety seeds for cultivation of rice and other food grains. Dependency on fertilizers has, at the same time, increased at an alarming rate. And every year, there is artificial scarcity of fertilizers, mostly created by section of unscrupulous traders, working hand in glove with various ‘social workers’. As if on cue, the elected representatives play the part of Good Samaritan, to the fertilizer-hungry farmers in these times of fertilizer famine. Even with the changes brought forth by modern agricultural practices, food-grain production in the state has never been able to meet its requirement. Self-sufficiency is still a mirage to the people of Manipur. The annual ‘Chaklam Khongchat’ seems to be addressing the issue of self-sufficiency, unfortunately, only at a superficial level. There could be exigencies of other pressing issues, which have made this specific superficiality to come to pass. Still, an increasing dependency on other States for food-grain and other essential commodities can no longer be overlooked. This dependency becomes stark and nakedly evident during economic blockades. Artificial scarcity of fuel can make people stand for hours in front of oil pumps for just a few liters of Petrol or Diesel. Prices of essential commodities would bear hard on the common people. ‘Chaklam Khongchat, today, is observed, every year, with the backdrop of the reality that petty politics on State highways can make people feel starved, anytime, at the drop of a hat. This is not to suggest that the observation should be used as a magic wand to wipe away all our insufficiencies with a single stroke. Rather, this is to emphasize that August 27 should be a day for critical scrutiny of the State’s productivity vis-à-vis its requirement and the way forward, without sidelining other issues.
During this year’s observation, a former president of the Union had drawn attention on the habit of splintering organisations, which impairs any mass movement in the State. Indeed, this has been an issue which has plagued most social movements, leaving room for public mistrust towards social organisations. May be, we have a case of too many generals and not enough army. Or, is it in our DNA, wherein splintering nature has been coded to give expression to this perversity. Once, a question was raised to a Western Classical musician whether there is any possibility of Manipur having orchestral concert of local musicians. The musician was skeptical, not because there is lack of talent. Western musical instruments are costly, yet they can be procured. The musician explained that Western Classical music gives utmost importance to the idea of harmony. In a concert, an ensemble of musical instruments performs what is asked of them, but with the intent to contribute to the harmony instead of disrupting it. The string instruments cannot overplay over the brass instruments, the same rule has to be followed by the wind instruments and the percussions as well. All in all, harmony has to be maintained. The musician said we have a critical deficit in this area. May be he is not wrong.

Leader Writer: Senate Kh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/hunger-marchers-day-and-its-discontents/

In the midst of all the public passion and high drama in the wake of the release and then re-arrest of Irom Chanu Sharmila, and the continuing din of demand for the extension of the Inner Line Permit System to Manipur, one other very important development remained obscure from public scrutiny. This pertains to the serious charge that the State government has failed to explain or clarify on the matter of appointment of five MLAs as Parliamentary Secretaries designated as “Ministers” in the current 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly. The allegation by Advocate Thoudam Manihar Singh is, the Parliamentary Secretaries were appointed under the Parliamentary Secretaries Act 2012, but in Manipur’s case, they were designated as “Mininsters”, and this according to him would violate the provisions of Article 164(1A) of the Indian Constitution. The advocate also charged the fact of the Chief Minister of Manipur, Okram Ibobi, administering oath of office and secrecy to these newly appointed “Ministers” is again unprecedented and may not be warranted by the Constitution. The advocate’s letter seeking the government’s clarification on the matter was routed through the office of the Governor of Manipur, VK Duggal, but despite assurance by the latter that the matter would be looked into, only a deafening silence has followed thereafter.

This is unbecoming, for the matter indeed is nothing to trifle. The named article of the Constitution which forms the basis of the Anti Defection Law, clearly specifies that the Parliament or State Legislative Assembly will have a ceiling of 15 percent of the size of the respective Houses as the limit of the size of their governments. If this rule was to be strictly followed, Manipur which has a Legislative Assembly of 60 MLAs should have been entitled to a government with only nine Ministers. But as all of us close followers of news events in the State remembers, this law was relaxed for small Legislative Assemblies like Manipur, and the permissible number of Ministers in their governments, including the Chief Minister, was fixed at the absolute number of 12. Sure enough, the current Congress government in the State, has long exhausted this quota of 12 Ministers from the time of government formation two and a half years ago. This being what it is, the appointment of five more MLAs as Parliamentary Secretaries may actually be in violation of the Anti-Defection Law. So why has the government not clarified the matter as yet? It probably is so certain public memory is short and the matter would be soon forgotten even if no action ever is taken. This probably is how it is turning out to be, for public memory in Manipur is indeed short. Except for very overt affront on their senses of rights and entitlements, nobody seems outraged by such possible skewing of the rule of law by those who are meant precisely to ensure it is adhered to by everyone.

A few months ago, there was a clamour by a number of ‘rebel’ MLAs urging the Chief Minister to affect a midterm reshuffle of the Ministry so that those who could not be accommodated as Ministers in this government can have a go at being Ministers. No prizes for guessing, but such a manoeuvre would have been objected to tooth and nail by those who are already in the Ministerial chairs, and the Chief Minister it seems proved to be a firm wall the rebels ran into, and all the sound and fury with which they pushed the rebellion, withered away in a whimper. Things today are thus back to Manipur’s standard of abnormal normal. Quite obviously, if the allegation of appointment of five MLAs as “Ministers” has any basis, the conclusion would be, this is part of the same game of musical chair where every MLAs would have nothing less than a Ministerial berth and the important constitutional posts of Parliamentary Secretaries have in this manner been probably and cheaply reduced to yet another MLA pacification device by the government. The idea of the Cabinet form of democratic government as teamwork, with the Chief Minister as first amongst equals, apparently has been rendered meaningless in places like Manipur, where nobody will have any doubt, governance has been redefined to mean nothing much more then contract brokering from its original exalted assigned purpose of national building. This scramble for Ministerial berths amongst MLAs, in order that there will be plenty to fill personal coffers, is therefore only to be expected. What is tragic in this despicable game is the manner in which various independent democratic institutions, including the supposedly autonomous Commissions and Boards of the government, have been reduced to outposts for disgruntled MLAs with the potential for creating tremors in the stability of the government. Many of these government institutions thus discredited are specialised, professional projects, with job profiles that few or no politician would be found fit to fill. Yet, this is Manipur, where even the legally impossible are continually made possible, and indeed the very notion of ‘legal’ itself has been made a fiction. This notwithstanding, the government must take heed of the clarification sought and answer whether it has in any unwarranted way, elevated the posts of Parliamentary Secretaries, in terms of service, perks and protocol, to that of “Ministers”. If the government expects rule of law to be adhered to by the public, it must practice what it preaches first.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/manipurs-abnormal-normal/

A constable of Criminal Investigation Department caught disguised as journalist reflects the blatantly intrusive nature of the Home department. However hard the constable might have tried acting like a journalist, he has been exposed. Along with him, his bosses who have supposedly given the instruction have also been exposed. Evidently, he was not acting his part alone. There are more members of his tribe snooping around at the premises of the Manipur Press Club. Let it be known that the more they try to act, the more they will be exposed. Deceiving act of the mole came to light during a press briefing by the volunteers of Joint Committee on implementation of Inner Line Permit system, on August 24. Though the CID constable rallied all his skill in acting, the reporters present in the briefing effortlessly spotted the odd man out. Agreed, the desire and need for intelligence has increased manifold. Great rulers and generals from early period of history relied heavily on their spies. Spying is one of the oldest professions ever known. Author of The Art of War, Chinese general Sun Tzu gave great importance to the role of intelligence. Underscoring that it is necessary to know the enemy beforehand, he wrote ‘If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear a hundred battles. If you know yourself and not the enemy, for every victory you will suffer a defeat. If you know neither yourself nor the enemy, you are a fool and will meet defeat in every battle.’ The aphorism is equally applicable to statecraft as well. To function smoothly, the State has to keep its eyes and ears open. The State Police’s CID is an important entity to collect information about potentially antagonistic groups or individuals and their activities. With numerous movements and demands that have been raised by social groups in the State, it is obviously the felt need of the administration to ascertain the nature of the movements; their modus operandi and areas of operation etc. This would ensure the State apparatus to be prepared in advance of any possible agitation or campaign, which could turn violent. However, the recent incident of the CID constable impersonating as journalist is an infringement of professional space, and unacceptable in all sense of term. Mingling with the journalist, the constable went on to the length of raising queries during the press meet. What prompted the State to send its spies to monitor the activities of the media? It seems, while performing their ‘intelligent duties’, the authorities have overlooked a certain fact – that the population of the State is not that large like other big States. Without much effort, it is easy to know what games people play. For instance, it is not difficult to ascertain how certain people in the locality manages to build palatial houses overnight; how even petty Government officers can own large amount of real estate properties within a short period of time and the like. The State must recognise the undeniable fact that media and the police row in the same boat. Journalists are not the enemy of the State. And perhaps, the foot soldiers of the State intelligence department and their bosses must read carefully Sun Tzu’s last sentence of the above quote.

Leader Writer: Senate Kh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/stop-snooping-on-the-media/

The State deputy Chief Minister’s appeal to Sharmila, to end her fast is not going to work. 14 years stand testimony to why it would not work. A perfunctory appeal on a public platform is not going to affect someone who has been shunning her two square meals for more than 5000 days. Agreed that Sharmila’s life is precious for the people of the State, and it is the responsibility of the government to look after her. However, this does not mean that the State should use unrestrained force to overpower a harmless hunger striker, caring little for her modesty; and even causing physical injury to her. Needless to say, this is just a manifestation of how the State takes care of its people. Furthermore, the deputy CM is seemingly on the brink of abdicating his statesmanship by urging Sharmila to take the lead in convincing ‘others’ to leave the path of violence. Who are these ‘others’ taking the path of violence? There is not much room for ambiguity here. One can safely assume that the deputy CM was referring to those who are part of the armed movements, which has been part of our political reality for more than three decades. This is ironical considering that the State has been on denial mode to register that there is armed conflict in this region. Rather ‘law and order problem’ has been a comfortable cover up for the denial. Repeated appeals have also been made in the past to the armed groups operating in the State to come to the table for dialogue. There is still little sign of all armed groups coming out for talk; except for some groups which are currently engaged in the so called suspension of operation. The State cannot shirk away from its responsibility of addressing the issue of armed conflict. A sincere political-will, both on part of the State and the central government, is necessary to bring about a solution to the ongoing conflict. Sharmila should not be dragged in to bear the onus which is on the State. It is common knowledge that the State has already devised a way to challenge the order of the Session Judge, who quashed the charge against Sharmila of attempting suicide on August 19. The State Home department has already issued official order to the public prosecutor of the High Court to draft petition against the judgment of the District and Session Judge, Manipur East. Most probably Sharmila is going to be indicted under the same section 309 of the Indian Penal Code. Beyond doubt, the State may use its entitlement to take legal course of action by petitioning to a higher appellate court. There is no easier way to stifle Sharmila than to charge her with any available section under the law, and confine her within four walls. But then, Sharmila’s supporters have rightly said that her thoughts and ideology cannot be suppressed. The State, not ready to acknowledge this, is sinking in a quagmire of its own making.

Leader writer: Senate Kh

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/indicting-sharmila-fighting-a-lost-battle/