Know Your MP Candidate: Inner Manipur PC candidates share thoughts, visions
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 08 2019: The second and last episode of 'Know Your MP Candidate', a debate organised by Editors Guild Manipur (EGM), in light of the 17th Lok Sabha elections was held at Hotel Classic Grande today.

Out of the total 11 candidates who are contesting in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, only 6 turned up to participate in the session, namely Dr M Nara (CPI), O Nabakishore (INC), RK Anand (NEIDP), Senjam Nandeshwore (RJSP), Md Iliyash Khan (Independent) and Dr RK Ranjan (BJP).

The session which was overseen by EGM president and The Sangai Express (Manipuri edition) Editor Khogendra Khomdram, All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) president and ISTV News Chief Editor Brozendra Ningomba and Manipur Hills Journalists Union president and Dih Cham Editor Ramkung Pamei as panellist, was moderated by Impact TV News editor Raj Nongthombam.

The programme, which was televised live on ISTV and Impact TV, apart from live streameing across their respective Youtube Channels/pages, was attended by numerous senior citizens, intellectuals, human rights defenders, cultural activists, CSO representatives and journalists.

Know Your MP Candidate: Inner Manipur PC candidates share thoughts, visions

Kick-starting the session, EGM former president and senior journalist A Mobi reminded that EGM organised the session for the first time during the 2014 Parliament election.

The first session of the event for the 17th Lok Sabha election was held on April 4, he added, explaining that the main objective of the session is to spread awareness about the candidates to the people and to enable the people select the right candidates of their choice.

On the other hand, Joint CEO Ramananda Nongmei-kapam said that awareness programmes have been organised all over the State as per the direction of the ECI and the CEO Manipur.

Out of the 80 lakh polling stations where EVMs and VVPAT would be used in the coming election, Manipur has around 2082 polling stations.

He also lauded the EGM for organising such an event to ensure people can make informed choice.

During the session, the candidates spoke about themselves, their objectives and their ideas and what they will do if they are elected and so on.

They also answered various questions posed by the people gathered at the event.

INC candidate O Nabakishore said that if he is elected as an MP, he will fight CAB and discharge his responsibilities well.

He also assured to work towards solving the border issues and take a major role in protecting the State's integrity.

Replying to a query, Nabakishore said that he joined politics and decided to contest the election after finding it hard to do all he wished for the welfare of the people when he was in the civil services.

He explained that the education sector needs many improvement and most of the Government schools are failing due to political meddling.

He also explained that recruitment of teachers are done on cadre basis and stressed on the importance of changing the present curriculum as well.

On the other hand, CPI candidate Dr M Nara said that initially he wanted to pursue medical profession.

However, after he went to Kolkata for further studies, he became engrossed in the left movement and as such, he joined CPI.

He continued that under CPI, he became an MLA and even a Minister and added that he still endorses communist ideology even today.

He also added that he is a cultural activist as well.

However, he expressed disappointment at the transformation of politics into a money milking machine for personal interest.

Frankly speaking, politics has become highly polluted and muddled nowadays and as such, it is high time for true and honest politicians to step into the limelight, he added.

Replying to a question, Dr M Nara claimed that the current situation faced by Manipur is due to such muddled and dirty politics and it is cumulation of the mistakes made by the people while choosing candidates.

He also urged the ECI and CEO Manipur for a proportionate electoral representation system.

BJP candidate Dr RK Ranjan said that he was a teacher and was even involved in the administration section of Manipur University, apart from being an environmental activist.

He continued that he took major roles in ensuring protection and preservation of the hills, forests and wetlands of the State and worked tirelessly for the welfare of landless farmers.

Looking for a better platform to help the people, he joined politics and began contesting election in the 16th Lok Sabha election as a BJP candidate, he added.

Replying to a query, Dr RK Ranjan said that out of the total population of Manipur, around 35 percent is made up of youths.

If the manpower and hidden potential of the people are properly channelled, the State will experience rapid development.

Over and above, Manipur also has abundant bio-resources, he added.

Answering another question, the BJP candidate said that the State Government has already made its stand clear to the Central Government regarding the CAB.

Even if the BJP manifesto mentions that CAB will be introduced, the State Government's stand remains unchanged, he added.

On the other hand, Dr RK Ranjan replying to a question raised by one of the CSO representatives regarding setback in the CBI investigation into fake encounter killings in the State due to lack of prosecution sanction which has not been granted by the State Government, the BJP candidate claimed that the BJP State Government has already pressured the Ministry concerned to do the needful at the earliest.

He also explained that AFSPA 1958 will be repealed automatically after normalcy returns in Manipur.

Speaking at the session, NEIDP candidate RK Anand said that only regionalism can bring change in Manipur and the North East region and he decided to contest the election with firm belief in this particular ideology.

He continued that he also joined NEIDP after finding it hard to bear the restrictions and prohibition placed by the National parties.

RK Anand then informed that he is a law student and was also a human rights defender and a social activist before deciding to join politics.

NEIDP will step in and bring change in the State, which has failed to see any positive change under the rule of many National political parties even though it merged with India more than 70 years ago.

The candidates present in the session also answered many questions raised by the people.