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Manipur Governor Ved Prakash Marwah has given a blanket sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation to look into charges of corruption against the state's politicians
Marwah told rediff.com at Manipur Bhavan, New Delhi that the decision was taken four days ago. "I have set up a Governor in Council -- which is the equivalent of the state cabinet, which has two advisors besides myself. At its first meeting we asked the CBI to investigate corruption charges against the state's politicians and also their nexus with militant groups. The CBI is free to register cases against anyone."
CBI spokesman S M Khan said, "We were investigating three or four cases when the previous government withdrew permission to continue. We are waiting for the governor's letter. Some cases are being investigated by the Guwahati branch of the CBI while the others are being done by the headquarters," he said.
According to Marwah, his first priority is to bring the economy back on the rails. "The state is in a financial mess. We have an annual budget of Rs 11 billion out of which Rs 8.5 billion goes on salaries. Another Rs 1 billion goes in compulsory interest. What is left is a mere Rs 1.5 billion. We already have an overdraft of Rs 4 billion. The task before me is huge and it needs to be tackled on top priority," he said.
He said that there were rumours of a nexus between politicians and the 20 odd militant outfits operating in the state. " In fact the chief of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak Muviah) belongs to Ukhrul village in Manipur. Besides the NSCN (I-M), the other two outfits operating in the state are the United National Liberation Front and the People's Liberation Army. We do not want bloodshed in the state but we have to tackle insurgency," he said.
He said that the people in the state had welcomed the imposition of President's Rule. "But this is going to be short-lived because they will have to swallow some bitter pills to put the state back on the rails," he said with a smile.
He lamented the corruption in Manipur politics. "It is relatively a new state and the party system is still very weak. Individuals keep floating from one party to another to make quick money," he said.
He refused to speculate as to how long the state would continue to remain under President's Rule. "I am not in a position to say anything," he said.
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