The integration of North East India which is yet to happen....

 

“Democracy is in our blood”; “India is among the top five countries in Renewable Energy”….These are theatrical statements by Mr. Modi for the international audience. In reality and on a closer examination of the recent Forest Act Amendment Bill that essentially forces the indigenous and tribal communities to relinquish their inherent rights over their ancestral lands while adopting a callous attitude towards natural and well preserved ecosystems in the resource rich north eastern states plunging the states into ecological destruction denotes his lack of honesty in dealing with Citizens of India. The Forest Act Amendment is against all principles of natural justice, environmental justice, prevailing laws on biodiversity and conservation under international laws. It is not clear as to how Mr. Modi concluded that India is among the top five in transitioning to renewable energy when accurate data is not available. The State Pollution Control Board mandates declaration of certain inputs from listed companies under the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR). On a perusal of the Annual Reports of a few of the listed companies it is clear that the PCB insists that these entities use those Vendors that are authorized by them. There are no clear inputs as the extent of renewable energy sourcing  and if the companies are involved in  projects relating to replenishment of  water sources to prevent its depletion. Such cosmetic changes to Annual Reports are not going to help protect nation’s depleting natural resources and a serious attempt to make profit-making companies take sustainable development much more seriously than the State PCB. It is about protecting and preserving resources for future generations and just to increase share prices in the Stock Exchanges. To achieve real sustainable development the State PCB’s need to be less corrupt and more vigilant in taking action against defaulters and ensure more compliance of internationally accepted norms on SD.

The reality of infrastructure in North East India  

 

With regard to the ongoing conflict in Manipur , it is my conclusion that the Prime Minister with his hatchet men wants to erase the aftermath of  Godhra riots by deeming Manipur conflict  as a religious confrontation between Christians and Hindus and nobody can question his silence over the issue. The conflict has been aggravated because the Centre has chosen to ignore the machinations and incursions made by China along India’s international borders and attempts to use these states  as a drug smuggling route by cartels and  the  adjoining nations. There is a need to make north-easterners feel more inclusive within the nation by extending  them the right to self-determination and retain their right to cultivating and managing their ancestral lands. The conflict in Manipur was a direct consequence of an order passed by the State’s High Court in a petition by the Meitis to be granted the status of Schedule Tribe. Either it was a mischievous decision by the High Court judge or an order passed by someone who has no knowledge of the demographic history of the state. In any case, the whole situation reeks of incompetence, indifference to the plight of its citizens.

 

Democracy is being shredded to pieces by the present government at the Centre under Mr. Modi’s leadership through a constant churning of people’s emotions, spate of amendments to disrupt peace starting with demonetization, undemocratic revocation of Article 370, introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Act, attempts to make the highest court of this land its puppet and by failing to resolve the Manipur conflict amicably. Such kind of orchestrations to distract the nation from developing into a vibrant democracy, it is my conclusion that Mr. Modi is willing to listen to foreign elements than his own people which amounts to treason in my personal opinion. The nation will gain its democratic status if Mr.Modi resigns and his government is put on hold until the next elections. It is better to have a 'policy paralysis' until then instead of  a dystopian state where people are rendered confused and delirious.