Uncover the Manipur scam

WHAT HAS HAPPENED in Manipur is most unfortunate and condemnable. Allowances and dues payable to the Manipur Rifles personnel for the period 1996 to 1998 have been siphoned off and misused by some persons in authority. When a mutiny-like situation developed during the weekend, the Government managed to deposit the money in the G.P. Fund account of the personnel and announced they could withdraw the same. What started with one battalion has spread like wildfire, holding the entire, sensitive State to ransom. Apart from all 12 battalions of Manipur Rifles joining the protest or cessation of work and returning to their barracks, some of the Government departments such as Fire Services and Criminal Investigation have also joined in to express their solidarity. This is a dangerous trend that needs to be nipped in the bud. If any of the officers or staff have indeed siphoned off the funds and misused them, even temporarily, deterrent action needs to be taken to ensure that no one repeats this kind of a misdeed. And when the Government initiates action, the personnel must not oppose it or demand their reinstatement. A full and proper inquiry into the entire affair has to be conducted and swiftly too.

Now that the problem has been highlighted and the Government made fully conscious of the consequences, it is time for the Manipur Rifles personnel to return to work. Discipline in Government service is of paramount importance and this becomes a part of life in defence and paramilitary forces. Not only has a lot of Government work in Manipur been paralysed, the security apparatus in the sensitive Northeastern State has almost collapsed. VVIPs today have been confined to their offices and residences, since they do not have the customary security arrangement in place. Worse still, when insurgents are so active in Manipur, a strike or mutiny-like situation could provide an ideal climate for not just militants but anti-social elements to go on the rampage. The Manipur Rifles battalions must realise their basic commitment to duty and abandon their strike path. It is up to them to demand the kind of inquiry they need to get to the bottom of this unseemly scam, which could run into crores of rupees. Mere committees to consider their grievances may not satisfy them at this stage. When such a probe is ordered, they must repose confidence in that process and return to their posts. At the same time, when such steps are taken, the striking staff must not use this as a handle to demand other benefits.

The State Government has its task cut out. Some of the Treasury and Ministerial staff in the Home Department have also struck work, since a cashier was allegedly beaten up by the protesting Manipur Rifles personnel. The Chief Minister, Mr. W. Nipamacha, has maintained a stoic silence after the issue came to light. And his political rivals are obviously wondering if the time is right to strike and remove him from office. Political leaders must realise the seriousness of the problem on hand and avoid politicising it. The security of the State and its leaders is now in question. All counter-insurgency operations have come to a standstill. The Centre must monitor the developments closely and initiate appropriate measures to bring this unfortunate episode to an early end. The salaries and allowances due to the Manipur Rifles personnel must not only be returned in full, but they must be compensated for the loss of interest for the entire period when it was due. A thorough inquiry into the temporary misappropriation of funds is now imperative to bring the guilty to book. The authorities must reckon with the serious repercussions of both the siphoning off of funds and the cessation of work by such a critical section of security personnel.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Opinion
Previous : A specious interjection
Next     : Vajpayee and the Babri Masjid