I wrote an article titled, “An Appeal to The Right Honourable Chief Minister of Nagaland” which was published in The Eastern Mirror and The Morung Express (slightly edited) of 10/4/18, based on Mr. Y Patton’s request to the Union Home Minister for replacing our current Director General of Police, Mr. Rupin Sharma, I.P.S, with Mr. Lungriading, I.P.S.; wherein I made three errors:-
The first was my assumption that Mr. Y. Patton alone had requested for the replacement of Mr. Sharma; the second and third, based on the information I had available, was that Mr. Sharma was senior to Mr. Lungriading (the latter is senior) and that Mr. Lungriading had never served in Nagaland (he has served in various capacities in the Nagaland Police).
I offer my sincerest apologies for the latter two mistakes. I offer no excuses, but hope the reader will understand that the apparent urgency of some issues leave me little choice but to write my articles and submit them, for Editorial Consent, as soon as possible.
But I offer no apologies for my first error. It seems that Mr. Patton was not the only Politician who sought to replace Mr. Rupin Sharma. It turns out that Mr. T. R. Zeliang and Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu had, earlier, requested Mr. Lungriading (31/10/17 and 1/04/17, respectively). The latter going to the extent of requesting the Prime Minister of India that Mr. Lungriading be transferred from his present Cadre (Meghalaya-Assam) to the Nagaland Cadre of the I.P.S.; failing which, he has requested the Prime Minister to extend the period of deputation of Mr. Lungriading for a further 3 years.
Prior to Mr. Patton’s request of the 28/3/18, Mr. N. Rio, our present Chief Minister and Mr. Temjen Toy, I.A.S. ( addressed to the Union Home Secretary), our Chief Secretary had requested for the replacement of Mr. Rupin Sharma with Mr. Lungriading on the 24/3/18 and 27/3/18 respectively. I had accused Mr. Patton of breaking Protocol, but now it seems all of those who wrote these letters are guilty of violating Parliamentary Democratic Procedure in bypassing The Cabinet.
Why have all these prior requests for Mr. Lungriading suddenly flooded social media? The funny thing is that ALL these letters are from periods in which Mr. Patton was holding the Home Portfolio, all are similarly worded and none of them have Cabinet Approval. It is accepted Parliamentary Democratic Procedure that all major decisions, irrespective of Department, have to be approved by the Cabinet; the appointment of the D.G.P. requires Cabinet Clearance; the Chief Minister of a State is not the dictator of the State, nor does the Home Department belong to the Home Minister. The question of requisitioning or replacing the top Police Officer of a State is not done by writing semi-personal letters to Union Officials.
For while The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued Guidelines which include one stating that appointments to the Post of D.G.P. require 30 years of service, they are Guides to aid in selecting the D.G.P.; they are not Orders or Laws. It also states that the total permissible period for deputation outside one’s Parent Cadre is 5 years. So, why harp on Mr. Rupin Sharma not having completed 30 years service; when his replacement, too has not completed 30 years ( the 28 Year eligibility for the D.G.P. of Nagaland is just a relaxation of the Guideline, not an exception for Nagaland) of service and furthermore, is no longer eligible for deputation to Nagaland? Why Mr. Lungriading in particular? Why not some other suitably qualified Officer?
I am not casting any aspersions on Mr. Lungriading; but this cacophony of Politicians (with the Evil Shadow of Patton looming over them), with a known track record of corruption, seeking to replace Mr. Sharma only serves to bolster the latter’s image as an honest Officer; that his occupancy of the Office of The Director General of the Nagaland Police prevents them from using the Funds of the Police Department as their Personal Bank Account, and its Personnel as their Personal Peons.
Mr. Rupin Sharma, I.P.S. has won not only the hearts of the Youth of Nagaland, but the hearts and minds of all middle and lower Rank and Files of The Nagaland Police. He has opened up the Office of The D.G.P. to All Police Personnel; they have free access to bring their problems and grievances to him, he has taken time out to visit Trainees, and seeks to ensure the welfare of all of them. What an inconvenient obstacle he must be to the Corrupt! He donated money for Master Akumdong, a young indigent victim of Cancer; and helped set up The Akumdong Humanity Fund to help poor children of Nagaland suffering from Cancer. How many Naga Officers have done anything remotely similar?
I had stated, in an earlier article, that I prefer an honest Non-Naga to a lying Naga, similarly, I prefer an honest Non-Naga to a Corrupt Naga. But I was a fool for thinking that Nagas would ever be able to Judge a Man by his Deeds. No, we have to judge ourselves and others on the basis of race, tribe, clan and village; the most heinous of crimes are pardoned as long as the criminal happens to be from our tribe, clan or village; whereas the slightest misdemeanour of others is pointed out with gleeful scorn and jeers. I was a fool for ever thinking that we would recognise and value Honesty, Probity and Altruism in a Man (qualities which Mr. Rupin Sharma possesses in abundance).
But above all, I was a fool for ever thinking Evil Men could beget Good Deeds; and that change for the better could ever be brought about by the Corrupt Ignorant Imbeciles we elect to our Legislature. Shame on all those who voted for them; and who still support them! You are the Destroyers of Nagaland.
