Politics of Hate Speech : Enemies of the people
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: February 11, 2013 -

Face Off : Rio and Ibobi :: Pix - TSE

One of the biggest enemies of the Naga people- Mr Nephiu Rio to Mr Okram Ibobi.. What exactly is "Hate Speech ?"

The Election Commission of India may have its own interpretation. The Union Home Ministry may have its version.

The Governments of Manipur and Nagaland may have their own understanding of this term.

But how about the people ?

The United Naga Council has come out with its understanding of what Mr Rio said.

But as far as the understanding of The Sangai Express is concerned, "Hate Speech" comes under that category which may spark communal/ethnic tension.

And Mr Rio's interpretation of what Mr Okram Ibobi has been doing in the last ten years and more suggests this. This is what is not acceptable.

Government policies are policies. The Sangai Express has been at the forefront of lambasting, criticising and opposing the conduct and policy of the Government of Manipur.

But to identify these policies as anti- Naga or anti- any community would amount to stirring the communal/ethnic cauldron.

The Eastern Naga Peoples' Organisation has been demanding a separate Statehood.

Now on this premise, can we say that Mr Rio is anti-ENPO or more specifically anti-some sub tribe of the great Naga community ?

The timing is wrong too.

Not at this time when the demand for an Alternative Arrangement and the Kuki State has been raised.

As the Chief Minister of a geo-political reality called Manipur, Mr Okram Ibobi has every right to speak out for Manipur.

But he does not have the right to fire shots at other communities. This also applies to Mr Rio. This is the thumb rule.

If Mr Okram Ibobi, by virtue of being a Meitei, says that Mr Rio is 'one of the biggest enemies of the Meiteis' then sure, he should be booked under the law of the land.

This is the bottomline.

Policies should be debated upon.

It should not be used as a 'catapult' to promote communal/ethnic tension. Mr Rio should disown his own statement.

That will make him a statesman. Period