Maiden visit of Agatha Sangma
MOS, Govt of India
(Honesty amid dishonesty, selfishness and corruption)

Kambam Ibohal Singh *

Agatha Sangma, Union Minister of State for Rural Development and the daughter of Shri P A Sangma, the former M P and Speaker of Lok Shabha from Tura, Garo Hills of Meghalaya is the youngest Minister of Indian Govt. with colourful personality.

She is perhaps the first woman Minister from the Whole North Eastern India, is a bright star to represent all the States of North East not Meghalaya only. She speaks fluent Hindi at the admiration of Smt Sonia Gandhi.

She had shown her honesty and sincerity unlike any other ministers who said something here and forgot everything there in Delhi. But the youngest minister kept her words. On 17th June, 2009 she came to grace as a chief guest in the celebration of 11th Foundation Day of the N C P to be held in Imphal.

Agatha Sangma visited Imphal on June 17, 2009

Immediately after her arrival she visited J N hospital to meet Irom Chanu Sharmila who had been on fast unto death for nearly nine years demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958. During their conversation the union minister gave assurance to put her (Sharmila's) case on the floor of the parliament for removal of AFSPA.

It was hardly ten days, on 27th June, 2009 she had shown her determined honesty and kept her promise when she met the honourable Prime Minister and handed over a letter requesting earnestly for repeal of the draconian Act or alternately withdrawal of the provision of the Act so that Ms Sharmila Chanu can end her fast and her precious life be saved. The impact of her sincere efforts is upto the Indian Govt. But what matters most is her unbelievable courage and honesty.

The Prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh once promised to remove the Armed Forces special power Act 1958 and constituted the Jeevan Reddy Commission. In view of the gravity of the Act Justice Jeevan Reddy recommended removal of AFSPA from N E R to relieve the people from the cruel Act.

But Dr Singh was not honest enough to keep his promise. To stand by his words the Act could have been suspended for a few months or years for trial and continued so, if the situation could improve without the Act. Unfortunately the prime minister was corrupted and misguided by the security advisor / army commanders and deprived him of a chance for trial.

Here in Manipur money has made man mad. All great and small are hankering after money and engage themselves in different unfair means of earning. The people of this land (Manipur) are in the habit of earning easy money which leads towards spoiling of reality and purity of life.

As a means of earning the abduction of Lungnila Elizabeth, Humbert and Martin was in deep pain and challenge for the people of Manipur. Had the abductors no sister or daughter or son to love?

Even after payment of ransom the tender children were murdered by the heartless brute and those who co-operated with the perpetrators in hiding the kids with an eye on the possible share of the ransom, were also criminals of great danger to the society.

The abduction of Th. Kishan and his staffs was all for money. Very recently the contractor Yengkhom Krishnadas was abducted and collected Rs 25 lakhs ransom to be killed without sympathy and kindness.

The past incidents are reminded in taking into consideration the human value of the people of Manipur degrading to the extent of dishonesty, selfishness and corruption. The abductors and accomplices could not be successful, if the people were alert and honest enough to save the abductees by disclosing the secrecy and hideouts of such abducted unfortunate persons.

The people of Manipur should be courageous to fight unjustified social evils without fear and even in the face of lost of life. Abduction, kidnapping and killing even after receipt of ransom is not a characteristic of a civilized society. It is a great challenge to the principles of co-existence of mankind.

The fasting of Sharmila Chanu is not utility of her own but a perfect unselfishness. She renounces all worldly comfort and pleasure making amply clear that her life is on the altar for the people. Her will and caliber for the long above eight years of fast that too in the prime of life, is more than human expectation. People's salutation goes for her selfless and saintly sacrifices for the masses.

The message she has given to the world is of love, renunciation and charismata. Life is most exciting for her to live for others.

The maiden visit of Ms Agatha Sangma, MOS amid dishonesty, selfishness and corruption has shown a new path of the highest ideal of morality by her honest promise and action which encourage sharmila chanu in her struggle to live upto her own ideal for others.

People expect her consistent efforts and aspiration would bring an end to all worries of the common people. The integrity of the young woman is to be measured by her conduct and activities.

If she wins the battle to repeal AFSPA, her embracing of Sharmila Chanu in love and affection would be before the eyes of the people afresh and the people of Manipur cherish a hope and dream to be realized by her coming to Imphal in person to declare repeal of the Cruel Act. Thumbs up with affection for the fair and lovely sister of N E R

See a photo gallery on Ms. Agatha Sangma here.

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* Kambam Ibohal Singh wrote this article for Huieyen Lanpao (English Edition)
The author is an ex-serviceman from Khurai Tinseed Road . This article was webcasted at e-pao.net on 30th October 2009.

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