Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren bats for a corruption-free State

‘We appeal to all sections of the people not to give bribe for getting things done, especially in matters of appointments in the government offices,’ he says

Nongthombam Biren who has just started his second innings as the Chief Minister of the BJP-led coalition Ministry in Manipur has been saying in all public functions that there would be no corruption in the State.

In a public reception accorded to him by his Heingang Assembly constituency people a few days ago, Mr. Biren announced that he would not take a bribe of even just ₹ 1. He said, “I have decided to devote my life to the service of the people. We appeal to all sections of the people not to give bribe for getting things done, especially in matters of appointments in the government offices. Both parties who give bribe and who accept it commit a crime under the law of the land”.

When he became the first Chief Minister of the BJP-led coalition Ministry in 2017, he opened an anti-corruption cell in his office to check the rampant corruption. Political rivals pointed out that no big shot was punished. A peon and one or two low grade employees were pulled up for accepting bribe involving a small amount.

Denying the charge Mr. Biren said, “ We had initiated serious actions against very big shots who held high posts like the Chief Minister, the deputy Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary for corruptions of all kinds”. But political activists say that these people were able to obtain anticipatory bails.

Mr. Biren says that the anti-corruption cell in his office has been revamped and one IGP will oversee it. There are toll-free telephones for the convenience of the complainant. He said. “Within a few hours of the receipt of the well-substantiated charge. official action will be taken up”.

Three times Chief Minister and present Congress Legislature Party leader Okram Ibobi said, “During electioneering for the 2017 polls, Prime Minster Narendra Modi ridiculed me saying that I am known as Mr. 10%”. Now he should realise that under the BJP rule, the percentage extorted from contractors and others has increased to 40”.

Though the tests for appointment of the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel were held several years ago the results cannot be declared. One of the reasons, as a former Congress MLA A. Mirabai, pointed out, was that the government coffer was nearly empty and it could not pay salary to the new appointees, including IRB personnel whose recruitment process was finished years ago.