The X Schedule

Sh. Ajit *

Any reasonable Manipuri with rational mind will wonder what is going on in the State of Manipur, especially in the field of political arena, these days.

Are we connected with ourselves? Whether any portion of morale has left inside our lives in search of power?

The power game in Indian states and Manipur in particular in “Modi2.0” is all about how you can manipulate or interpret the provisions of X Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

The constitutional relationship of Judiciary, Executive and Legislature are left behind as “Ideals” in the Temple of Democracy.

This reminds us the lines of Elangbam Nilakanta:
Kadomdano Lambelsibo
Chin’ga Khutka mannadaba
Phidam dagimeesaknaluba.
(I do not translate these lines intentionally.)

The press-releases of the MLAs, resigned or disqualified, do not give any sound political argument in the current underpinnings of politics in Manipur. Sometimes, people think unworthy for the money they paid for the newspaper.

Being a layman in Manipur, I pay for newspapers, comparatively higher than the price of national papers, but thesedo not give news worth the price. The false may be of the media house, I wish; the present day news makers are those who think innocently that the JCB owners who are in touch with the Ruling Party are far better than the MLAs of Opposition Party. This idea was expressed by one former MLA not so long ago.

Abusing of X Schedule in the Game of Throne is not unique in Manipur. The X Schedule itself was conceived from this State. We have seen variants of this Game in other States like Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Rajasthan. My only problem is when those MLA of other Indian States exclaimed with a commitment that their party will win the battle and it is not Manipur.

The public image of Manipur in the Indian political scenario is pathetic, is one having no morality in taking sides against all the available political principles. In short, for power and money, the elected members can cross any limit, even the spirit of X Schedule can be destroyed. The hatred among the individuals or towards the party leader could not be the valid ground for violating the spirit of X Schedule.

Biren is an apple in the eyes of BJP. For BJP, election is not a mere game of government formation; it is a means of its mission called Congress Mukt Bharat. The craft of twisting Congress in both LokSabha and RajyaSabha Elections not only got applause from the Party leaders but also gained an extra feather on Biren’s Cap.

Amidst the attacks of intra and inter-party nature, Biren could make the election of lone RajyaSabha; he could celebrate the winning of the Election with six Congress MLAs resigned (in the terminology of Warfare, surrendered) and joined the BJP Party.

No one, including those of BJP rivalries, can stop Biren; he is unstoppable and unbeatable. He played stopper as a footballer but he plays forward in the game of politics. Unlike Joykumar, his deputy, his training was to defeat the opponents, not to wait somebody’s command.

He is a real Mary Kom. Keeping aside of Corona, he went to Delhi, amidst the political intrigues of changing guards, to parade those who are willing to join Party and to rebuke their original party leaders. He proves himself to be the person whom Party can rely and to execute Party’s mission of Congress Mukt.

Manipur does not want to see which Party rules Manipur. The fate of Manipur does not change much in last 7 decades and the people does not believe that BJP will render service what Congress could not in last 7 decades. In the eyes the Manipuri, there is no difference between Nehru, who called Manipur, Jewels of India and Modi, who promised Manipur would be changed in 100 days.

There are still muds and rocks in Jiri Road or Dimapur Road. The drug problems started during Congress period and the magnitude becomes multi fold in Biren’s tenure. We cannot say which one is cause and effect; it is of the same process.

Nonetheless, Manipur still has hope because there are many who love to cross the flow of chaos in Manipur. The current of symbol of such an enthusiastic whistle blower is Brinda, a new symbol of defiance. The language she chooses may not be as sweet as an apple to those in power. We have seen in 1960s till early 80s too.

The language of N K Sanajaoba was never quoted in any literary work or leisure culture but his spirit of finding out the loopholes in the power structure "Yukhal Marumda" -is still praised in the collective mind of those who love Manipur selflessly.

Another journalist was Irengbam Arun who could stand up when he saw anything wrong in the statecraft. The sub-stream that started from Lamyanba to Ireibak (of Irengbam Arun) via Resistance, the then English weekly newspaper, is what the author of Madhabi, Dr Kamal called Chandanandi. Those boat rowers of trouble stream had limited space to spread what they thought.

With the advancement of cyber-technology, Brinda uses social media, which is a very forceful medium, as a tool to express the muddy water of the institutions. Now, she is a symbol of antagonism to power-gamers, a political actor who acts beyond feminism. Her outspoken and unruly choice of words may irritate those in power.

But, those people who have no power to participate but who have a dream of a free Manipur from the chaotic system love her. They pray for her welfare.

In short, as a layman what I feel is that - if you have no hesitation in lowering down your morale for a temporal power which has upper limit, you have nothing to claim for fame or defamation.

The sub-stream does not surrender and gives up the spirit of X Schedule that is loud and clear: commit to your ideology and do the best for the people.