With all due respect, I would like to point out that I have never subscribed to the adage, “A Leopard cannot change its Spots”; I am of the opinion that everyone and everything is subject to change. And the opportunity to decide whether the change is for good or bad rarely lies beyond the control of an individual; but whether it is by The Hand of God or the Spin of The Wheel of Fortune, a chosen few are given the chance to decide, on behalf of Society, the direction this change will take.
During the tumultuous years that Mr. T. R. Zeliang occupied the Chief Minister’s Chair, I had occasion to publicly denounce him and members of his Cabinet on a number of issues; but on Social media and in private, when his and your supporters were blaming each other for the mess Nagaland was in, I always contended that while the two of you were guilty of carrying on the Evil Practices of Corruption, Nepotism and Favouritism; these Evil Customs were introduced and established by your predecessors. And that blame for the mess Nagaland was in did not fall entirely on you, him or even the two of you, but was shared by your predecessors too.
I bring this up because of the antics of one of the Ministers of your Cabinet. The period you have controlled Government is still too short to judge you on your performance; but your Deputy, and current Home Minister, Mr. Y. Patton seems hell-bent on belying your promise of “Change”. He had earlier requisitioned a Lecturer (?) to be attached to his Office as an Officer-On-Duty, an act of favouritism that we seem to take for granted; but now he has gone to the extent of trying to replace the highest Law Enforcement Official of the State, namely our Director General of Police.
Mr. Patton has broken Protocol by bypassing your Office and The Cabinet, and appealed directly to the Union Home Minister for a replacement to our current incumbent, Mr. Rupin Sharma, I.P.S. The spurious reasons given for seeking this change is that Mr. Sharma has not completed 30 years of service and that he has served as a Superintendent of Police of only one district in Nagaland, neither of which are valid reasons for disqualification from holding the Office of The Director general of Police. Mr. Patton has revealed his mala fide intentions by seeking Mr. Sharma’s replacement by name. A person who, according to sources, is not only Junior to Mr. Sharma, but has not served EVEN ONCE, in the State of Nagaland.
Mr. Rupin Sharma first caught public attention when, as the A.D.G.P, in charge of Prisons, he introduced Skills Development Programmes in the Jails of Nagaland. Bank Accounts for Inmates were opened and they were taught to make detergents (among other things) and proceeds from the sales of their manufactured goods were deposited in their accounts. This achievement alone should have marked Mr. Sharma as an Officer and Gentleman that Nagaland could ill-afford to lose. But he has gone further by interacting with the People of Nagaland on Social media; floating ideas to improve the efficiency of the Nagaland Police, seeking suggestions to improve Public-Police relations and has managed to enhance the image of the Nagaland Police in the eyes of the Young People of Nagaland. Many Nagas have a subconscious alienation towards Mainland Indians; Mr. Rupin Sharma has managed to overcome this and, in the process, established himself into a Positive Role Model for thousands of Naga Youth.
Mr. Patton’s attempt to bring in a new Chief of Police, of his choice, can be viewed as nothing less than a signal that the usual business of Corruption, Favouritism and Nepotism will be the order of the day, and it will begin from the top. You, Sir, have once again been given the Reins of Power in Nagaland. It is for you to decide whether Nagaland will continue on its rutted path of corruption, or break new ground in search for a better future for Nagaland and its People. Nagaland is mired in enough controversies, there is enough trouble looming ahead of us without actively seeking fresh controversies; I understand the need for Political Expediency while dealing with members of your Cabinet, but the good of Nagaland cannot become hostage to mere Political Expediency. I therefore urge you to kindly rein in Mr. Patton on this issue. I thank you in the anticipation that you will realise that the Common Good of Nagaland must take precedence over the Individual Profit of Members of your Cabinet.
Kahuto Chishi Sumi
Akukau, Hevishe Village, Khaghaboto Range
Kahuto107@gmail.com
