Happy New Year. We bid bye to 2002. Internationally the year that had gone was not as devastating as 2001. But in the Indian context an incident, which could not be controlled in Gujarat, threatened to shatter the communal fabric. Nearly 1000 people lost their lives in the post Godhra incident. A community paid heavily. That exposed the true colour of a political party and its allies. Yet it decided to bank heavily on the Hindutva wave. They succeeded at least in Gujarat. That victory BJP scored in Gujarat elections was infectious. The venom will spew on other states too. As we welcome 2003 let us hope that such killings do not recur again at least in this sub continent. 2002 brought a new Govt led by Congress party in Manipur. Yet its very existence lay threatened by the political chauvinism of BJP led Govt at the centre, because the latter is looking for one option to topple this Govt, which it seems is available to the party ruling at the centre. In 2002 the state Govt could not do anything meaningful for the state and its people. Sharmila is still fasting. Let the New Year creates an atmosphere conducive to end her fast. Let her have a meal together with her aging mother and family members. She had refused to take anything orally for the last two year and two months. Her courage is simply inimitable. She is really great. Let her spirit instill to all people of the state the courage to fight for rooting out evils in the society. Let the New Year bring realization to all people of the state why she is still fasting. She is fasting for one cause. If we all realize it the peace is assured. The Govt should follow in the path set by her. She has shown the way, where lies peace. Let us unite and appeal to all for ushering in peace in the state as desired by Sharmila. Let us not allow her to end her life in the manner as she is doing without seeing the return of peace to the state. Corruption as usual continued to rock the state. The Govt could not do anything to end the menace of corruption in Manipur. Perhaps it found no time to look into the matter. Naturally the matter slipped in the hands of the UG elements. Corruption is a serious matter. The Govt employees who draw monthly pay should not be allowed to indulge in corruption. Corruption is responsible for widening the gap between men and men. The Govt should evolve a system to punish the employees found guilty of committing corrupt practices. Our thinking is very simple the men who get monthly pay have no right to earn sleazy money through back door by indulging in corrupt practices. They should be given punishment. But death penalty for corruption sounds very extreme. They should be kept alive and asked to return the amount they had taken to the rightful persons. Let the New Year usher in corrupt free society in the state. This is our resolution for which this paper is committed to fight to achieve its declared goal. Happy New Year to all readers of the Manipur Mail.