Kahuto Chishi Sumi Akukau,
Hevishe Village, Khaghaboto Range
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 Y Patton’s request to the Union Home Minister for replacing our current Director General of Police, Rupin Sharma, IPS, with Lungriading, IPS; wherein I made three errors:-
The first was my assumption that the Deputy CM alone had requested for the replacement of Sharma; the second and third, based on the information I had available, was that Sharma was senior to Lungriading (the latter is senior) and that he 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 Patton was not the only politician who sought to replace Sharma. It turns out that TR Zeliang and Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu had, earlier, requested for Lungriading (31/10/17 and 1/04/17, respectively). The latter going to the extent of requesting the Prime Minister of India that concerned officer be transferred from his present Cadre (Meghalaya-Assam) to the Nagaland Cadre of the IPS; failing which, he has requested the Prime Minister to extend the period of his deputation for a further 3 years.
Prior to the Deputy CM’s request of the 28/3/18, Neiphiu Rio, our present Chief Minister and Temjen Toy, IAS ( addressed to the Union Home Secretary), our Chief Secretary had requested for the replacement of Sharma with Lungriading on the 24/3/18 and 27/3/18 respectively. I had accused the Deputy CM 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 suddenly flooded social media? The funny thing is that ‘All’ these letters are from periods in which the Deputy CM 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 DGP 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 DGP require 30 years of service, they are guides to aid in selecting the DGP; 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 Sharma not having completed 30 years service; when his replacement, too has not completed 30 years (the 28 Year eligibility for the DGP 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 the particular officer in particular? Why not some other suitably qualified Officer?
I am not casting any aspersions on Lungriading; but this cacophony of Politicians seeking to replace Sharma only serves to bolster the latter’s image as an honest officer..
Sharma 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 DGP 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 Sharma possesses in abundance).
