No one in the Cabinet for close to 20 years : Short changing Ukhrul
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: April 16 2016 -
Short changing Ukhrul. A district to be precise and lest we are taken wrongly, let it be clear that we still stick to our stand that getting a Ministerial berth is not the be all and end all of everything.
However it becomes a bit tough to digest when one takes into consideration the fact that this district has had no Cabinet Minister for nearly two decades.
This is as per a letter submitted to The Sangai Express by a reader and which was published in the 15th April edition of the English edition of this newspaper.
Except for two Ministers of State in the persons of the late Wungnaoshang Keishing from Phungyar Assembly Constituency and Aza Shimray from Chingai Assembly Constituency, no one from the district has been inducted into the Council of Ministers as a Cabinet Minister.
Important to remember that Ukhrul district has produced two Chief Ministers-the late Yangmasho Shaiza from Ukhrul Assembly Constituency and Rishang Keishing from Phungyar Assembly Constituency.
Also important to note that before Okram Ibobi came to the scene as the Chief Minister, it was Rishang Keishing who had the distinction of being the longest serving Chief Minister of Manipur.
Other than these two personalities, Ukhrul has produced some of the more prominent political figures in the State and it is difficult to believe that this is the state in which the district finds itself in today.
This commentary is made in the backdrop of the recent Ministry reshuffle that Manipur saw. Yes in Victor Keishing, the MLA from Phungyar AC, Ukhrul has a Parliamentary Secretary and Preshow Shimray from Chingai Assembly Constituency is the Deputy Speaker.
But is this doing justice to a district, which has seen no Cabinet Minister for close to 20 years ?
A matter which deserves the attention of the Chief Minister.
Remember close to 20 years without a Cabinet Minister and the Chief Minister is about to complete 15 years in the chair.
This should say something significant.
Or is it a case of the Congress not giving due importance to a district which has produced two Chief Ministers and a host of other notable political leaders ?
This is not about inducting an MLA into the Council of Ministers in the rank of a Cabinet, but more about how a district has been short changed for such a long time.
Ukhrul district certainly deserves better than this.
Without taking names, The Sangai Express would also like to remind the Government that some officers from this district have been overlooked for promotion to the top posts and letting a district go without a Cabinet Minister for close to 20 years may be taking things a little too far.
Let better sense prevail and as the Chief Minister, O Ibobi should know that politically neglecting a district will do no good for the whole State.
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