Imphal, May 16: Outgoing Manipur Governor Ved Marwah today described the uprising in June 2001, during which 18 protesters were killed, as the “most difficult” time during his three-and-a-half year gubernatorial tenure in Manipur.
Marwah will be here till the middle of next month, after which he would take over as Jharkhand Governor.
Marwah also said his greatest achievement in Manipur was clinched during the same period. “Preventing an ethnic bloodbath was my biggest achievement in Manipur. Though tension and sentiments ran high, not a single communal clash was reported during the June-July uprising,” Marwah told The Telegraph.
Manipur was convulsed in the wake of the extension of the NSCN (I-M) truce beyond the territory of neighbouring Nagaland. Eighteen people were killed, including 14 in police firing, on June 18.
“Though that period was the most difficult part of my stay in Imphal, I enjoyed my tenure in the state. I will cherish the experiences I have had in Manipur,” said Marwah, recipient of the President’s police medal for gallantry and the Padmashree as the head of the National Security Guard, which launched the successful Operation Black Thunder in Punjab.
He termed the worsening economic scenario in the state as his biggest disappointment. “During President’s rule, I tried my level best to improve the tottering economy. But my administration only lasted nine months. I am disappointed that the situation did not improve to the extent I had expected,” he said.
Marwah also had his fair share of controversy. He was targeted by the majority of the teaching community of Manipur University for his role in the appointment of N. Bijoy Singh, the then director of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, as university vice-chancellor. He defended himself against the accusations, saying he had appointed the best man available.
The Governor was critical of the political system in Manipur, saying, “Ministers, instead of thinking of serving the masses, only think of serving themselves. During my tenure, there were changes in government three times.
He went on to observe that there were too many parties in such a small state. The Tenth Schedule had little relevance in Manipur, he added. There are 36 ministers in the 60-member House. In addition, there is a Speaker, the Assembly’s hill areas committee chairman and a deputy Speaker, he pointed out.
Marwah described the state as a “goldmine.” He said: “People are so talented, skilful and scholastic. The Manipuris are a cut above the rest in the northeastern states.”
Militants held: Two hardcore NLFT militants were arrested and two sophisticated firearms and large quantities of ammunition recovered by CRPF jawans yesterday, reports our Agartala correspondent.
Police sources said jawans of the 85th battalion, posted in Jeolcherra in Atharomura ranges had received feedback that NLFT rebels had entered Mahuraipara.
Yesterday they received information that two militants had taken shelter in a tong (elevated bamboo house). They raided the tong, and literally caught the militants napping. Before the militants could fire, the forces overpowered Haranjay Jamatya (26) and Tahiba Koloi (25).
