Some politicians are remembered for their services of the people, irrespective of which political parties they belongs too. For years people of the state as well as people across the nation who are familiar with one of our great leader Rishang Keishang as a property of Congress Party.
Every learned scholars of the state knows that Mr. Keishing had already stepped out beyond any political party. From being a Socialist party member he become a congress man, and became the oldest parliamentarian in Rajya Sabha. For 4 times he was the Chief Minister of Manipur and to recounts, Mr. Rishang Keishing is the first MP to represent Manipur in the Parliament.
The death of the leader has indeed shocked the people. The state government paid the highest respect to the oldest parliamentarian by declaring holiday for a day and by mourning his death for three days. The kind of respect showed to the departed leader shows that Mr. Rishang Keishing is the true leader of the soil. He is a true Manipuri – a true leader for the Meitei/Meetei, Tangkhul, Mao, Maring, Kuki, Zomi, Muslims and all the 32 plus ethnic communities of the state.
His wisdom in making the state alive had left with no choice to the politicians of the state but to make him represent the state as the first MP to the Lok Shabha in 1972. Later when he returned to the state he managed to become Chief Minister for 4 times while electing as MLA for 5 times.
He was a pioneer in the struggle for inclusion of Manipur as a state of the Indian Union. Every one knows his contribution to the Indian Union. And he represent the state as Rajya Sabha MP some few years back and set records as the oldest parliamentarian of the country.
What shocks Imphal Times is the silence of the central leadership to his demise. There were condolences message from various political parties. Even the Nagaland Congress and the West Bengal Chief Minister had extended their heartfelt pain and sorrow to the demise of the oldest parliamentarian. As of now we still see no such condolence from the NDA.
When Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha expired, the prime Minister of India Narendra Modi takes no time to share the pains and sorrow. No such condolence is heard from the Prime Minister Office even though it is 3 days now, that Mr. Keishing had expired.
State mourns his demise, but the nation seems to have no value for the oldest parliamentarian.
Should we still believe that the nation still treats this part of the country as an integral region. If so the nation should certainly share the pains of this region to the loss of Octogenarian politician and the oldest parliamentarian.