Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has three important things occupying his mind right now. First, it is that ‘little’ scam in Loktak Lake which had been lately kicking up a storm here in the state. We fail to understand why the government spokesperson chooses to refer to the multi crore Loktak Lake scam as something ‘little’. Is the government trying to say that the Loktak thing is not worthy of public attention? Or is it an indication that there are much bigger scams on hold? Well, for a tiny state like Manipur Rs 224 crore is really big money and by far the Loktak scam is the biggest ever which happened in the state. And if this is peanuts for the government led by Okram Ibobi Singh, God have mercy on us. Secondly, there is the big hype over a ‘breakthrough’ in the talks between the government of India and the NSCN-IM ahead of Nagaland assembly elections, which directly affects the tiny state of Manipur. Media reports are talking about a solution ‘within the Indian constitution’ while also ruling out any compromise of the territorial integrity of the neighbouring states. Yet, it speaks of a special kind of arrangement for the Nagas living outside the state of Nagaland. Chief Minister Ibobi Singh has been mumbling about the lack of proposals in written, ever since he met the Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in the capital. He seems unsure of himself and he is not as vociferous as the Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in saying no to Greater Nagalim, these days. The firm conviction and resolution in defence of the territorial integrity of the state is gone from his utterances and action. It is not that we agree with his simple defence of the territorial integrity of Manipur. What has been lacking all along is his idea on how he is going to ease Manipur out of the present imbroglio? On that, Okram Ibobi Singh has no ideas. How is he going to nurse bruised egos and how is he going to bridge the gap between the hill and valley? One must understand that there is a searing gap in the body politic of Manipur which urgently needs mending. Words, high sounding words no longer deliver the magic touch. Perhaps this must be what Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh is afraid of. The third thing is of course the ensuing ‘Ningol-Chakkouba’. This is one of the biggest festivals of Manipur, when brothers celebrate sisters once a year. It is an occasion when women who had become part of other clans get a chance to feast and mingle with their brothers and other members of the original clan. Something to die for. Least of all, it is once a year affair. Most importantly, this is a time when you cough up money to pay dues and bills or when due bills or pending salaries are cleared. Every year, the government clears its dues and pending bills and gives out salaries and wages for its employees and workers. Yet, this year it is uncertain. After months of reeling under the pressure of overdraft, government employees and workers have been expecting their salaries and wages besides the payment of government bills and dues on the eve on Ningol Chakkouba which falls on November 15. But, the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who also holds charge of Finance and the one responsible for undoing the purse-strings of the government is away in Australia. So naturally, questions have been raised as why he is not in station at this time of the year. It is because the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi have any satisfactory answer to the Loktak Lake scam or because he does not have any ideas on how to deal with the emerging situation in Nagaland or because he want to reserve government funds for himself and his cronies by waiting out the Ningol Chakkouba festival?
