The resounding return of N Biren Singh

Rajendra Kshetri *

Chief Minister N Biren Singh oh the 1st day of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly March 24 2022 :: Pix - TSE

" I will end corruption and I will start it from my family.”

So said, nay declared, Shri N Biren Singh at a reception held at his Heingang Residence, soon after he was elected as Leader of the BJP Legislature Party (paving the way for his second consecutive term as CM). It is another matter that it was received with giggling murmurs from the assembled crowd.

Straight from the horse mouth, coming as it did from The Man who has relentlessly waged war against drugs, Shri Biren sounds serious enough to send a stern warning/message to all stakeholders. I remember Mrs Gandhi (read Original) saying that ' corruption is a universal phenomenon ' and it cannot be completely eradicated.

She was right to a considerable extent but what is right also is the fact that corruption, the BANE of present day society, could be curved and its degree lessened.

To this extent, Shri Biren's public declaration is a BOLD and Statesmanlike statement and therefore ought to be taken with the kind of seriousness it deserves. This could be a game changer as far as War Against Corruption, if at all such a Move is initiated, is concerned.

Shri Nongthombam Biren is Back. Back to the Beloved Babupara Bungalow. As Chief Minister of the State of Manipur for the Second Consecutive Term.

Soon after being sworn in as the Chief Minister, having pipped his nearest contender Shri Thongam Biswajit to the Post, on the Twenty First Day of March 2022 by the Honourable Governor of Manipur, Shri La. Ganesan at a solemn function held at the Raj Bhawan in the presence of several high profile dignitaries that include the BJP National President Shri JP Nadda, Assam Chief Minister Shri Hemanta Biswas Sarma, Tripura Chief Minister Shri Biplab Kumar Deb; the Twenty Third Chief Minister of Manipur lists out 3 Priorities (duties as he loves to term) of his Government.

" My Government's first step will be to make it a corruption-free State " , he said and adds further " I would work day and night to wash out corruption from the State ". Shri Biren went on to say, according to ANI, he would "wash out any kind of drug related matter " and initiate to " bring all insurgent groups to the negotiating table ".

These are eye-catching and ear-pleasing words. But there is hardly anything new and refreshing to think about and ponder upon in that every successive government have been saying all along the same thing. More or less, that is.

For the past so many years , people have been used to hearing/reading about such promises and would have definitely liked/welcomed to see some concrete, real and visible actions taken/initiated against corrupt bureaucrats/officials (not excluding MLAs and Ministers), drug lords and peddlers, and punishment meted out as per law of the land.

Since such punitive actions/punishments are not forthcoming and visibly seen, people have now learned to shrug off with dismissive comments. This is sad but true and a poor commentary on the part of every successive government that we have had in the State.

Important as they are, the Chief Minister cannot be faulted, though, for spelling out the three issues as his Government's priorities. But I must say these are easier said than done. Perhaps the Chief Minister has some more pressing priorities up his sleeve. As one facebooker have commented on a fb post of mine "... sometimes, nice things aren't worth saying. However, we ought to give ojaa Biren a benefit of doubt just for the sake of our own optimism ".

Given Shri Biren's commitment for the welfare of his people, which cannot be doubted, and his strong desire to bring change for a BETTER MANIPUR, which should not be doubted either, one would have liked to hear him spell out his plan policy and ideas on the pressing Environmental Issues of our time such as
i) ever-increasing siltation of rivers in the Valley,
ii) rapidly vanishing water bodies and wetlands, and of course
iii) ever-deteriorating ecosystems of Loktak lake.

One also would have liked/expected him to mention on the State's long felt need of having Institutes of Eminence like IIT, IIM , IISER and ICSSR Center in Manipur, as his Government's agenda. Come to think of it, Manipur is second to none in the education sector especially in the field of Science and Technology.

Unfortunately, Manipur have, of late, started seeing the 'brain-drain ' phenomenon in the form of hundreds of talented students going outside the State every year for further studies/research and employment.

There is no apparent reason why the State Government could not set up ,it is a matter or political will , plus we have in our MP Dr RK Ranjan, an Union Minister of state in charge of Education. If Assam could have IIT, and Meghalaya IIM, Why Can't Manipur Have? Why Shouldn't Manipur Have?

Public memory is short, so they say. But I don't believe in the saying. Public today are concerned, informed and vigilant. Whether the Chief Minister Shri N Biren Singh, in his New Avatar as The Strong Man of Manipur, means what he said/declared and/or said what he means remains to be seen/watched.