By Albert Thyrniang
“Contradiction, Conflict of Interests, Hidden Agenda and Mercenary” would have been a lengthy but an appropriate title to this essay. Be that as it may let this be the gist, the description, the subject and nature of this piece.
On June 21, the 9th International Day of Yoga, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi led a ‘historic yoga session’ at the United Nations in New York where world leaders and celebrities joined enthusiasts from more than 180 countries. While the Indian premier was the focus at the UN, the institution founded to maintain international peace, understanding and security, Manipur raged on with fire, guns and weapons. At the headquarters of the 193 Member States body Modi proudly proclaimed, “The power of yoga is not only to be healthy, happy but also to be kind to ourselves and to each other. Let us use the power of yoga to build bridges of friendship, a peaceful world…” but for two months he said nothing to bridge the gulf and ease the tension between two warring communities in a state in his own country.
Prior to the commencement of the much-publicised event, the PM paid respects to Mahatma Gandhi in the North Lawn of the UN. The Father of the Nation’s unique contribution to the world is non-violence, yet under the BJP regime hate and intolerance against minorities has been allowed to rise sharply. Hate speeches and vigilantism have resulted in violence, lynching and other forms of taking law into one’s hand. The Manipur bloodshed too is a consequence of a hateful narrative against the Kukis-Zomi tribes. Yet the PM has not taken Gandhian values to them.
The UN itself has inherent contradictions. Established to maintain world peace after the failure of its predecessor, the League of Nations to prevent World War II, the UN’s relevance came under question when Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Kuwait, etc. were wrongly attacked. The dubious and strange veto power of the five permanent member states, namely, China, France, Russia, England and the United States is responsible. Imagine even if all 192 members vote against bombing a country, any of the five members can defy by misusing the veto vested on them by the UN itself. This self-contradiction has made the UN unsuccessful in upholding international peace.
The stoic silence of the PM and the central government’s late and ineffective response to the crisis in Manipur is driven by a “hidden agenda.” Former state chief minister, O Ibobi Singh suspects so. The North East Students’ Organization (NESO) while informing their candlelight vigil plan in all state capitals of the region on June 28 for peace in the riot-hit state asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence if there is no hidden agenda. What is the hidden agenda? One suspicion is to ‘divide and rule.’ The state is already reeling under, among others, the developed plains and the backward hills, the minority tribes and majority non-tribes divide. It is suspected that the violence was permitted to be unleashed to create further divisions in the already volatile state. Secondly, it is not ruled out that the BJP objective is to consolidate their vote bank in the Manipur valley whose majority inhabitants happen to be mainly Hindu Meiteis who command 40 seats in the 60 member Assembly. Thirdly, the driving out of Kukis from Meitei dominated areas could be used as the pretext to grant ST status to the Meiteis to ‘safeguard their land and identity.’ Lastly, violence could be an excuse to hunt down Kuki ‘militants’, ‘narco-terrorists’ and ‘foreigners’. The government could come down hard on Kuki groups but might be soft against ‘militias’ like the Meitei Leepun and Arambai Tenggol who made away with a cache of arms from police stations. Members of these radical outfits who enjoy political patronage were reportedly used by the state police to evict forest encroachers (Kukis) from reserves. To achieve this ‘hidden agenda’ the state allegedly perpetrated the worst mayhem against minorities. The ruling BJP is squarely responsible for the escalating violence. For almost two months the ‘saffron party’ seems unwilling to end the spate of violence. President’s Rule is the natural corollary when there is a complete breakdown in governance but the Centre won’t do so because Manipur is a BJP ruled state.
With the 3-day visit of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the last week of May yielding no result, the all party meeting was called last Saturday. Shockingly, it is learned that the Meghalaya chief minister, Conrad Sangma was all praise for the Union Home Minister for steps taken on Manipur. Is there something hidden here too? Is the CM pleasing the centre lest agencies come down hard on the various illegalities and scams in the state? The collapse of the retention wall at the PA’s Sangma sports complex (constructed with central funds) in Tura is serious though the CM played down the incident.
From the “City of Jewels” we move to the “Abode of Clouds.” On Jun 20 it was a surprize to see the sudden teaming up of Congress with the NPP in toppling the Titosstarwell Chyne administration in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) followed by the swift formation of new Executive Committee called the Khasi Hills Democratic Front (KHDF) in Council. The contradiction in state politics is mind-boggling. The Congress is the main opposition against the NPP led MDA-II government in the state while in KHADC the grand old party is a partner of the NPP. The UDP is now in opposition in KHADC against the NPP while in the state it is in alliance with the NPP. Ronnie Lyngdoh is the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly but he, as MDC, is with the new dispensation in KHADC. Charles Marngar is supposed to be a combative opposition MLA but now he is the deputy chairman in KHADC. When the new Assembly was constituted, though only five, the Congress legislators were expected to provide a robust opposition. Now the LO will only tamely oppose the state government. Much less will be anticipated from his other four colleagues!
The same applies to the UDP in KHADC. The Chief Executive who is now LO and the rest of the UDP MDCs will not rattle the KHADC with any intensity, else the Party will be kicked out of MDA-II. There is no point in blaming Prestone Tynsong. For self-respect the UDP should quit. But it will not because the ministers have to keep their chairs. Paul Lyngdoh’s favourable statements so far are to please the NPP bosses so that if one minister faces the axe he might not be the one. He is a leading minister in the state government. How will he oppose the NPP in KHADC? So no stiff opposition from the UDP for sure.
There is clear conflict of Interests both in the state and KHADC. People are being fooled. We think that there is a government and an opposition, but not really. The NPP has secured the support of both the Congress and the UDP. The Congress is warming up to the NPP in hopes of being invited to join the government, who knows even with the BJP in! The UDP can’t afford to annoy the NPP for obvious reasons. Should the public accept this kind of pretence? Should we not speak up against such political nexus aimed at one objective only – to make money for the ADC elections in 2024?
The only solution to this theatre of the absurd is to make the Office of Profit rule apply to the ADCs. Let the principle of one person one post rule without exception. Let not a person be an MLA and MDC simultaneously. MDC is certainly an Office of Profit. Members draw salaries and allowances from public money. The second is to bring in the anti-defection law to the ADCs. In its absence MDCs act at their whims and fancies. In the beginning of the term Congress had 10 MDCs. Four just called it quits at their own pleasure. If the coup was not executed, probably the other non-MLA/ MDCs would have already donned the NPP uniform by now. Reform the ADCs otherwise they will never be credible and independent. They will remain puppets in hand of the state government.
A lot of prayers were seen inside the KHADC on taking charge of the new CEM and deputy CEM. Unlike in the Assembly no prelate or pastor was invited. The members assumed the role capably. God was thanked after the act of ‘betrayal.’ God was praised for mercenary politics. God was credited for rendering the institution devoid of credibility. God was made to be involved in this conflict of interests. God was acknowledged for the contradictions in the state. This is taking the name of God in vain.
The turn of events in KHADC was an act of humans. Don’t invoke God for decisions like these. Surely Jesus was nowhere near the KHADC premises. God was far away from the venue. Definitely God distanced himself from the claims and counter claims in the House. He did not lend his ears to their gratitude and supplications. Certainly, God must have said, “I am not a party to your political plots.”