|
|
'Defection is a political vice'
radhakrishna : Hello, Mr Koijam. Don't you think all of
you politicians in the Northeast have lost all credibility? Especially those of
you from Manipur, who have made such a spectacle, a sorry spectacle of
legislative democracy. Don't you people have any shame? The way you guys defect
from party to party would even put the original Aya Ram Gaya Ram from Haryana to
shame.! Radbhabinod Koijam : The defection is a political
vice. But all kinds of defection cannot be put in a single basket. What happened
in Manipur can be divided into two episodes. One, was before the formation of
the Samata Party led government and the other was after the formation of this
government. In the first instance the defection was necessitated by public
interest. In the second case the entire exercise was goaded by personal interest
of some MLA's to become ministers and of BJP's obssession to instal its own
government by toppling a government led by its ally and in which government it
was also partner. In the first instance when Nipamacha Singh government became
completely anti people because of its indulgence in corruption and refusal to
take action to improve the law and order situation and the financial condition
of the state, all MLA's demanded for imposition of President's rule in the
state. However, this could not be done because of the stand of the congress
party. When President's rule could
Radbhabinod Koijam : Hello, I am here. I would like to
putforward my view point first. In Manipur beyond territorial integrity we have
to work for emotional integtirity among different communities in the state.
Manipur is an old princely state having a history of more than 2000 years.
During this period the people of Manipur-Nagas, Kukis, Meities, Muslims and
other communities have lived together with trust and love and affinity. This old
bond of trust, love and affinity should not be broken by temporal
considerations. It is for all the communities to safe guard the territorial
integrity of Manipur but this should not be at the cost of our old bond.
concerned : I am not a naga, nor a meitei, how can u say
that we can live in peace when the manipur politics is overtly
lop-sided? Radbhabinod Koijam : I am not sure of what you
mean by politics is lop-sided in Manipur. If you are meaning that in a house of
60 Meities have 40 MLA's and tribals (Nagas, Kukis, Zomisand others)have 20, it
is because in a population of 23.88 lakhs Meities are about 15 lakhs. And the
tribals are about 7 lakhs and Muslims are about 1.6 lakhs. The number of MLA's
are proportionate to the population under the Indian system of democracy. So
there is no lop-sidedness. Another aspect you may like to know about Manipur is
in its history of last 30 years of Statehood two Tangkhul Nagas were chief
ministers of Manipur for 14 years. And a Muslim chief was minister for one year
and eight months and Meities were chief ministers(six of them) for hardly eleven
years. About three and half years the state was under president's rule. Even
though the tribals and Muslims who are in minority in population were chief
ministers for longer periods then all the Meities chief ministers taken togather
this cannot be called lop-si
kkumar : Dont u think its right that President's rule has
been imposed Radbhabinod Koijam : While we talk about the
president rule there are two types of situations (a) Assembly under animated
suspension(b) dissolution of the assembly. You are asking about the second one I
suppose. The first one has been approved by both the houses of parliament.
Manipur assembly has about 3years and 9 months to go before the expiry of its
present term. I do not think dissolution would be a correct step after sometime
or period, representative government should be allowed to come back otherwise if
the house is dissolved now and elections held there is likelyhood of many
'undesirable elements' coming into the house.
arocks : American study has warned that the sir, what do u
have to say on the "american study" that concludes Northeast having the
potential to become India's next Kashmir? Radbhabinod
Koijam : I am not aware of what study are you talking about. But
it is certainly correct that North East is very sensitive, strategic for
national integrity but unfortunately the national leadership is not very well
aware of or is not very well interested to understand the ground realities in
the region. I would say that North East has more potential of danger than
Kashmir. In Kashmir we are dealing only with Pakistan but in the North East we
shall be dealing with China via Myanmar.
mike : Koijam you politicians are so damn perverted that
you will sell your mom if that gives you a political advantage ... what do you
say about that? Radbhabinod Koijam : You are completely
incorrect.
Jeremy : Why do the meiteis oppose the ceasefire when a
"ceasefire "stands for peace? Radbhabinod Koijam : Manipuris
do not oppose ceasefire. But they oppose the territorial extension of the
ceasefire with NSCN(IM) because of the claim of the outfit for greater Nagalim
having an area of 1.20 lakh square kilometers. With a population of 35 lakhs
when present Nagaland state has an area of 16,579 sq.kilometers with a
population of about 16 lakh only.
radhakrishna : why is there so much antagonism among the
various peoples of the northeast? it's not just that most of them hate india,
they also hate their neighbours. can't you see that such kind of antagonism can
never be conducive for peace in the region? Radbhabinod
Koijam : I do not think that the people of the North East hate
Indians or their neighbours. They are trying to be understood by the people of
India.
nagalim : NSCN is very powerful. BUt they were not
contacted or consulted about the cancellation of the "without territorial
limits" in the ceasefire agreement. DOnt you think Mr. koijam, that the
GOvernment has done a serious mistake to anger the NSCN ? At the cost of so many
innocent people in Manipur? Radbhabinod Koijam : It has been
said here that the government of India had discussions with the leadership of
the NSCN(IM) in Amsterdum through its interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah and some
agreement was reached as regards the review of the June 14 agreement. If the
leadership of the NSCN(IM) had not been consulted by the government of India it
would be another grave mistake and misfortune.
sunil : mr. koijam in your view what is to be done to
pacify the manipuri people Radbhabinod Koijam : Manipuris
are today agitated over the issue of territorial integrity of their state. They
are not against any community or state. To pacify them it would be necessary to
give an assurance of their territorial integrity. Verbal assurances would not be
sufficient. Constitutional safe guards is the demand.
satya : , Sir,What r the reasons u believe that keeps NE
states lagging behind the other states, pl answer Radbhabinod
Koijam : For development of the region people of the area
themselves have to take responsibility and initiative. It is understood that the
region is poor and backward and extra efforts would be necessary to bring it at
par with the rest of the country. The crux of the problem is the understanding
of the leadership at the Centre and the willingness of the people to undertake
responsibility with sacrifice of their personal interests.
Bibhu : Do you think that BJP betrayed you ?
Radbhabinod Koijam : It is not a question of my thinking.
It was BJP which split alliance partners to increase its number and thereafter
topple my government.
nagalim : Sir, what is your view on what remedy of peace
should be taken for the whole situation? Radbhabinod
Koijam : Indian govenment should initiate dialogue with the
underground outfits operating in the North East for a permanent and wholesome
peace. Talking to only on group may not achieve this. The people of the region
as well as government of India should not try to encourage ethnicity but should
work for social/communal harmony to construct the bridge of understanding, trust
and love and affection.
Radbhabinod Koijam : Thanks for asking questions. Please
help in developing the social harmony and understanding in the North East at
this critical juncture.
|
|