Stability for whose sake?
Who stands to benefit, political bandits or the public?

Yenning *

A look inside the Assembly Building at Chingmeirong, Imphal in 2013 :: Pix - Danial Chabungbam

The general perception that stable government will bring overall development and well being of the state is negated by the government of Manipur. It is not only once but three consecutive terms which is running. After every passing day, the expectation of the people faded away not because of the fear of instability but because of ignoring the well being of the citizens. It is not an exception but a system that was generated over the years. The Congress formed the government in March 2002 and they are still at the helm of affairs.

After completing two consecutive terms in power, the third term began in March 2012. In this eleven year of governance, Manipur has degenerated so much that people do not expect anything from the government. They have lost trust in the government. Besides the failure of the state in strengthening the citizens' well being, the state also witnesses the worst form of human rights violation, corruption and increasing private enterprises at the cost of the government sector. The Human Rights groups called the preceding decades as 'Fake encounter decade'.

For lack of space, this column would not cover all the failures or shortfalls of the government but selectively deals with two issues
(i) Culture of Touningbata Touba and (ii) Culture of Uncertainty Stability for whose sake

(i) Culture of Touningbata Touba

Impunity refers to the failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and at the same time refers to denial of justice and redressal mechanism to the victims. In short, it is exemption from punishment or loss. It is no doubt that impunity has become a culture among the state and central forces in the name of counter-insurgency operations.

But, the concern is the ever increasing culture of impunity among the non-security affairs such as openly looting of development funds. for example Loktak scam and proliferation of drug trade. However none of these acts is a concern for the state authorities as either they or their close aides are involved in these cases. So there is no question of being arrested or being punished. This is not a complete picture but just a selected illustration to explain the argument.

(a) Loktak and K Pro and the State Government

In the name of conservation and management of Loktak Lake and associated wetlands, planning commission has sanctioned an amount Rs 25 crore as Special Plan Assistance (SPA) in the year 2008-09. The total cost of the project is 224 crores. The state started the work on 6 January 2010 while the process starts in 2008-09 by awarding the project to K Pro Private Limited in 2009.

What is surprising is that K-Pro also turned out to be a brand new corporate body formed only on 22 June 2009 much after the tender notice of Loktak Development Authority (LDA) on 4 June 2009. This scam is exposed by many including Tahelka Vol 7, Issue 13, dated April 03, 2010 under the title 'The Lake and the Fake Firm'. Similar question has been raised by Jiten Yumnam- an environment activist in the Imphal Fress Press (20 Oct, 2012) under the caption, 'Loktak mismanagement & peoples' rights'.

What is unfortunate is that neither Government of India / Planning Commission nor state government even raised the issue inspite of the having a complete evidence. Tahelka in the same article incorporated the comment of a senior cabinet minister which observes that: "I did present evidences to various senior Union ministers and party leaders about the way the Chief Minister is minting money in the state."

He even alleged that K Pro Infra Works was actually owned by a top politician's 'natural' son. This inaction of the competent authorities could be because of the percentage sharing between the state actors involved including the PMO office and Planning Commission. If they are not involved, they could have raised the issues or at least constitute a committee to investigate the scam which was not the case.

(b) Proliferating Institutional Drug Trade

Drug trade was a concern for the state and non-state actor in the last few decades. The non-state actor awarded death penalty for such activities. Similarly the government also took various measures to counter the menace. It may not be to reduce the drug trafficking but to reclaim the space taken over by the non-state actors. However since the last decade and particularly after the Congress take over the administration of Manipur in 2002, the drug trafficking has re-strategised their business.

It seems that the drug traffickers who used to avoid the state actors have now extended their hand to the state authorities or people who are in charge of the state. This has increased the institutional drug trade in Manipur (protected by the state authorities including Ministry of Civil Aviation and CISF who are guarding the Airport). This was the business of the Central Security Forces which required the conflict as it was the best cover for the business. However, with the addition of the new partners, the business was expanded and also the business becomes more and more open and natural. This has exposed the modus operendi of the business or also increasing mistrust among the partner which results in seizure of drugs.

However the people who are involved in the business seem to be more powerful than the party who somehow managed to seize drug consignments. None of the arrested so far has been punished, whereabouts of the seized drugs and who are the real owner remain a mystery. Two incidents can easily explain the situation. For instance, Incident 1: Four days after a huge consignment of Pseudoephedrine tablets worth around Rs 1.4 crore were seized from Tulihal Airport, Imphal, the only Special Intelligence Unit (SIU) in the state based in Imphal West district was abolished. The exact reason for abolition of the unit which had been actively engaged in seizure of illegal drugs and intoxicants is not yet known.

However, SP Imphal West K Jayenta told Hueiyen Lanpao that it is a matter of internal arrangement; Incident 2: all the six persons including the then Defence PRO Ajay Chowdhry and Seikholen Haokip son of sitting Congress I MLA TN Haokip were granted bail by the NDPS Court on July 15 & 16, 2013. Theya were apprehended by Thoubal commandos along with a huge consignment of pseudoephedrine drugs worth Rs 25 crores in international market at Pallel on February 24. The most interesting part is the reason for granting bail, The Court maintained that the bail was granted as no charge-sheets were filed against them apart from detaining them in jail longer than the statutory period warranted by Section 167(2) of IPC.

(ii) Culture of Uncertainty

The people inspite of the stability of the government have lost trust in the government. It is not because they are not capable of doing anything in the time of crisis but their manipulation with the help of their close aides have created more difficulty in any crisis situation. Their intention is to make money out of the situation and not to address the situation until their bags are full. But unfortunately, there is no limit for them.

For instance, if there is any possibility of highway bandh, it is immediately reflected in the oil pumps. It will stop supply to the people and immediately the road side black market flourished with the price leapfrogging 100 to 150 %. Similarly, the price of essential commodities including superfine rice which is consumed by the common people will shoot up to almost 100%. It may be noted that maximum number of bandh and blockade happens during the period of Congress rule.

The 11 year of rule is a golden period of themselves and their black marketers. Their exploitative business flourished simultaneously along the government announcement to take stringent action. But the common people have experiences that the government announcement is more related to the exploiters than the people. It is like giving a message to the exploiters that we are now with you. This is evident as not a single black marketer is arrested or punished except some small road side vendors.

The big-shots who are supplying to these people are untouched. Besides the petroleum product, the main exploiters are the non-local business barons who control trade and commerce in Manipur. This situation is much sharper in Imphal areas where maximum of the government offices and political institutions are located. Besides, every nook and corner of Imphal is guarded by security forces round the clock. These situations easily explain the involvement of the state.

The non-interference of the state is the contribution of the state. So, now with the news of landslide in Nagaland and the problem in Jiri road, the exploiters have already collaborated with the state partners and begun their business. The public sales of petroleum products are closed and the essential commodities have already increased their prices. What is unfortunate is the inaction of the state authorities. The vocal ministers have shut their mouth and seem to be getting busy with their partners. It is now known when the state will intervene but the common people are not expectation anything from the government except trying their best to support themselves.

To conclude, Yenning wants to highlight two cases where the state authorities can be booked for their misdeed. One is the case of Fake Encounter, Supreme Court revealed in their investigation. The second one is the case of disproportionate assets case filed by CBI against Major Harpreet, who was posted at IGAR (South), Imphal during October 28, 2008 to January 28, 2012 for collection of Rs 43, 36,761 by means of bribes in his and his relatives' names which is not in tune to his income.

Considering the assets of some of our politicians, bureaucrats, police officers and contractors, this is a small amount but the fate of Major Harpreet could also be extended to them for they are not destined control the state forever.