Respecting federalism
- Imphal Times Editorial :: February 26 2017 -

If one carefully listen to what Union Home Minister of State Kiren Rijiju had stated yesterday regarding the existence of NSCN-IM camp here in the soil of Manipur, it is easy to guess that either the state government or the Union government is befooling the people of the state.

Rijiju had stated that the Union government had no knowledge about any illegal activities carried out by NSCN-IM in the state of Manipur as the state government has not informed about any such matter to the Union government.

His statement is a blow to the state government. When he said that the state government has not informed any such illegal acts of NSCN-IM to the Union government he definitely meant that state government is not rendering its service if in case any unwanted activities are carried out by NSCN-IM here in the soil of Manipur.

Perhaps, the Union Minister of state was trying to unfold the game being played by the state government.

Over the many years, people of the state has been facing serious problem due to certain dictate by the NSCN-IM.

State government agency had perfect knowledge of how the NSCN-IM authorities are taking their share from any contract works if taken up in Hill districts where the NSCN-IM cadres are active.

Transporters had many times produced slips which showed NSCN-IM collecting illegal taxes.

Recently, in the wake of the political differences and the simultaneous act of the group having political differences at Hill district, photos of NSCN-IM cadres openly conducting duty amidst the general public in Nungba area were uploaded.

If the kinds of happenings are not informed to the central government authority then the state government has every reason to be blamed.

Had it been true that the central Government has no knowledge of any illegal act committed, then we the people of the state have every right to dethrone the Okram Ibobi Singh led Congress party from the soil of Manipur.

But if Mr. Home Minister of State was trying to throw the ball to the court of the state government then the result of the upcoming Manipur Legislative Assembly Election will definitely be against the party which he belongs to.

On the other hand the silence of the state government authority to the statement of Union Home Minister of State also spelled out some ugly truth to the part of the government.

The Union Minister of State had rightly stated that India follow the doctrine of federalism and while respecting the federal structure of the Indian Constitution the central government has no right to interfere the state problem.

One thing need to be appreciated Mr. Rijiju is that, he assured any form of assistance if the state government desires.

This meant the state government is intentionally trying all its effort to throw the BJP which is in government in center by not showing its sincerity to them.

Why couldn’t it present all the information that is needed to them when it comes about illegal activities committed by the NSCN-IM. Something seems not going right.

The ugly truth is going to make the people pay in the coming days.