Rajnath's apology for AR's excesses to the media should be welcomed

Dr Th Suresh Singh *

Union Home Minister , Rajnath Singh at the Indo-Myanmar Friendship Bridge at Moreh on 13 February 2015 :: Pix - Johnson Lhungdim - DIPR

It is happening for the Ist time in Manipur's history. If ever happened earlier, one is welcomed to correct me.

A union home minister coming to see law and order problem in our turbulent state of Manipur, apologised to the media for the excesses committed by his children, the famous Assam Rifles (AR), is a welcome sign.

Manipuris would not have dreamt of it earlier. Remember, Union Home Ministry is the custodian of AR, The force is under his department. Hence, he being the highest commander, the apology is all the more a relevant one.

The apology was rendered yesterday during his visit to Moreh at a prèss meet at Moreh.

In our state, we remember AR for its various humane right violations – rape, extrajudicial killings, custodian torture, unlawful detention and what not. These lists are endless, I don't have to repeat them. The list is endless.

To this, one also can add - unlawful detention of Ministers, civilian visitors especially in Imphal-Moreh road.

Occasionally, the force took pride in capturing loads of no 4 variant tablets, ganja, unlawful tick wood transportations etc. etc. Though very good for our civilian population, I am very doubtful about these activities.

An in-depth analysis is to done whether these so-called extra-curricular activities are really included in this fighting force sent to fight our insurgent brethren.

For good or bad, we have to analyse it and take up with Rajnath and PM Modi.

Personally, I am of the opinion that, as AR has almost nothing to do with the militants, they indulge in such extra curricula activities.

This is to show to their masters that they are doing something good for the people. As his visit also includes review of AR activities, I only hope that he will also review AFSPA in our state.

Coming back to the apology, I take it as trend-setter.

I also feel good that he took many questions and answered those from their BGP government's point of view.

The topics covered are – AR excesses to the media and Ministers, their torture to the bus passengers, special battalion for the surrendered etc. He gave firm assurance that AR will not be allowed to do any excesses.

He also added that the special battalion is under process. Seeing in totality, one can say that the reply was +ve. His overall objective was to see the overall development of the state along with review of law and order problem. This includes functioning of AR in the entire N-E States.

More heartening was his calling direct feedbacks from DCs and SPs individually.

With Nirmala Sitharaman, union Commerce Minister also visiting the state on 9th & 10th of this month, a host of other Ministers are expected to visit the state.

This is Modi effect, this is Modi style. Unlike the congress-ruled centre, we are seeing and expecting a lot of activities in our N-E states. We have only to see the after effects minutely.

Though newspapers have boycotted AR related news bulletins rightly, it will be appropriate to withdraw the same, even if temporarily, in view of Rajnath's unconditional apology.