'New Cash' problems in Nagaland in the festive 'Election Season'
Did DGP Rupin Sharma led to problems during 2018 polls ?
Problem comes in money flow.
New Delhi
The Election Festival is here and it is the 'free for all' season. Hardcore anti-NDPP
politicians are changing colours. Time to be practical.
Those who hated 'Hindutva' were too keen for business with Lotus flags fluttering the roof tops. But once 'denied' tickets, some are keen to deal with a Bihar-based party.
And why so? The so-called 'NDA tag' goes in favour of the LJP (Ram Vilas) led by once upon a time a Bollywood actor Chirag Paswan. There are other Bihar-based parties too in the reckoning-- the JD(U) and RJD.
These are not problem areas. Problem comes in money flow. Thanks to 'etu manu (read Narendra Modi) and the new normal digital payments culture -- half the people are finding it difficult to transact in cash. To add 'Neem' flavour to the bitter gourd curry -- comes one and only Rupin Sharma.
Yes, the 'boss' -- the new DGP is back in old hats and habits; and 'bosses' may again find the going tough.
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| from the past : Memory files |
"aayyaa..." -- a typical remark is usual now from Naga politicians. This is a typical Nagaland variety
of exclamatory observation vis-a-vis the hurdles and problems of cash flow. It goes melodious and
more native --- as one moves from district to district.
Like many 'wrong' people in the world, DGP Rupin Sharma issued a simple order on Jan 11th directing all police unit commanders for strict implementation of Nagaland Police Risk Insurance scheme within 48 hours. The 'leakage' departments were unhappy -- maybe.
Now comes the new season wherein the DGP is reporting directly to the Election Commission and so in days to come more strict measures will be taken up to stop 'movements of cash and guns'.
This sounds like 'Ding Dong bell....the Netas in the well'. But it also displeases hundreds of political workers and even common citizenry who had reconciled to the well-run practice of buying and selling of votes. There are sidelight players as well - like proxy voting.
Rupin Sharma has a few medals on his chest. One of them reads -- "The Chief Secretary’s letter meanwhile revealed that the current DGP’s “inexperience led to challenges and issues in the conduct of the State Assembly Elections in February 2018....somehow we were able to ensure that the elections were conducted without any major law and order situation". (reported widely in March 2018).
Sadly, the then Chief Secretary is now in another world. There was another letter addressed to the then Home Minister Rajnath Singh. It said Sharma “does not possess the requisite experience” to be posted as a DG since he only served as SP for one year in Peren district.
It is a different matter that Sharma has handled matters related to underworld don Chhota Shakeel.
The March 27th, 2018 letter from the chief secretary alleged that Sharma’s inexperience led to “challenges and issues in the conduct of the state assembly elections in February 2018”. (The Print.in)
So, the stage is perfect for the media to see what unfolds next. A popular cop and a bunch of unpopular Netas. In the long term perspective of course India deserves police reform and no government is showing courage to bring it. Nagaland police personnel are almost considered a protocol force.
There are proxy cops probably as there were allegations about proxy teachers.
But in the short term perspective, people expect the 'people's DGP' to be more vigilant alongside his force. That means it will be 'action time' for cops. Needless to add, some feathers could be unruffled.
In the meantime, the mastercard in Nagaland elections is seldom with the faceless voter. It's perhaps yet again with Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who still needs some genuine friends and well wishers.
Media is never a foe, but a true mirror and most often showing the spots on the face so that the right balm is applied. Political 'chamchas' are an antithesis to this friendship. Left to him he is mature and understanding enough to understand - either as a sitting Chief Minister or an MP or for that matter as an ambitious young leader who would tell friends (of the 1990s) shyly, "Sometimes, I do not mind criticism".
In the run up to the polls, one message from some of his friends will be - dear Sir, you missed a chance to work for Solution. History would have remembered you in golden letters with or without Himantas around. But nevertheless as the NDPP thrives, you do not let the next opportunity go to waste.
ends
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