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Performing gubernatorial responsibilities has often triggered serious controversies during the past five decades of independent India with many hallowed occupants of Raj Bhawans across the country having complied with the biddings of political masters rather than the constitution. The last such fiasco was enacted by Mr Ramesh Bhandari who had dismissed Kalayan Singh's government in U.P. in early 1998 under the provisions of Article 163 (discretionary power of the governor) and not because of constitional breakdown as envisaged in Article 356 of the constitution. Fortunately for the state, our tiny Tripura has so far remained relatively free from unseemly controversies over the high constitutional post of governor except for a brief spell in 1993-94 when the ruling left front took to the streets to protest the appointment of |
Mr Ramesh Bhandari as governor of the state. The present occupant of the state's Raj Bhawan Lt General (Retired) Krishna Mohan Seth-a highly decorated officer of the Indian army who achieved remarkable success in fighting counter-insurgency in troubled Nagaland and thus laid the foundation for the current peace talks-has already established himself as a respected patriarch to the people. With his invaluable experience as former army general and administrative foresight His Excellency Lt General (Retired) Seth has been contributing to the process of development of the state, guiding and advising the state government on crucial matters. He took time off his busy daily schedule to grant this interview to tripurainfo.com.
Q.No.1:Your excellency , it has been nearly two years since you took over as Governor of Tripura . What is your impressions of the state ?
Lt Gen Seth : At the very outset , let me tell you Tripura is a state endowed with natural beauty. With its flora and fauna it has a charm of it's own and it is inhabited with friendly and hospitable people . As to why my personal impressions, Tripura has suffered maximum due to the partitions in 1947. With the land , rail, and sea links severed with the rest of the country it lies on the limb. This has led to a feeling of deprivation which got compounded by cross-border migration which changed the demographic pattern of the population. Over the last four years , the centuries old co-operation and tolerance between the tribals and non tribals have gradually started eroding . With its high literacy rate , each and every educated person of the state wants a government job and very few display entrepreneurship skill and desire to stand on their own feet (Ratio of population to state employment ; All India 1:113 , Tripura 1: 29) . Tripura, on the other hand, is amongst the few states that have displayed financial and administrative acumen in managing its affairs . In adition , Tripura has vast natural resources whose potential is yet to be fully exploited .
Q.No.2: Your excellency, before assuming gubernatorial responsibilities in Tripura your kind self gained valuable experience in fighting insurgencies as army general . How do you think the problem of insurgency can be solved in the state?
Lt Gen Seth : Without going into the details I feel the root cause for the insurgency in Tripura could be summed up as the changed demographic pattern of the population , loss of land holdings by tribals , lack of development , frustration among the youths due to lack of opportunities and jobs . There is also a perceived feeling of alienation and deprivation in a section of population . Now, based on my old experience I feel security forces operations which include the military , paramilitary and police can at best create an opportunity or an environment within which a comprehensive solution to the problem can be found: by itself it cannot resolve the problems. I know, insurgency impedes the government and scares away industries and investors. But, I am equally convinced that lack of development breeds discomfort which feeds and fuels insurgency and, as such, we cannot keep waiting for insurgency to end to take up development. An important factor in resolving insurgency problem is the relationship between the population and insurgents which is akin to the one between pond and the fish. If you wish to clean up the pond, you have no choice but to separate the two. For these, we have to bring awareness amongst the population and convince them as to where lies their interests. No force or harsh measures would achieve this; instead only sincere and genuine effort is required by the government and by the security forces. In doing so, innocents under no circumstances should be harmed in any way. A solution to the problem of 'landless' has to be found - together with this, reconciliation between the tribals and non tribals must be attempted at the earliest: a realisation has to dawn that there is no other way but to co-exist peacefully and mutual respect for each other has to develop to usher in lasting peace. Problem of insurgency can be contained to a point only, but for complete elimination of the problem training and logistic camps of the terrorist organisations located in the neighbouring country which, due to their proximity and porous border, provide ideal launching pads for their violent activities , must be eliminated by the host countries . In the present international environment against terrorism I am quite hopeful that with the help of the central government, the camps would cease to exist.
Q.No.3: Your excellency, during the past two years of your tenure in the state, has there been any occasion when you did not see eye to eye with the state government and how has been the general relation?
Lt Gen Seth : I have received full co-operation from the state government and during the last two years I can state categorically that there has been no occasion of any conflict.
Q.No.4: Your excellency, apart from constitutional functions , how can a governor contribute to the state of his posting ?What has his excellency been doing to help Tripura ?
Lt Gen Seth : A Governor is an important link between the state and the centre and if he enjoys the confidence of both he can significantly contribute towards the state's progress without interfering in the affairs of the state. I have tried to project the state's critical needs to the central government from time to time. My major efforts is focussed on containing insurgency through developmental process - be it expediting construction of railway line to Agartala and then to Sabroom, infrastructural development which can eventually lead to faster industrialization of the state and speeding up trade and transit with Bangladesh. My eventual aim is to somehow assist in ways and means to wear away the social dropouts and frustrated youths by encouraging self-employment and assist in ways and means for creating newer job opportunities.
Q.No.5: Your excellency, what will be your message to the people of the state , particularly the youths?
Lt Gen Seth : My message to the people of the state is simply this: they must realize that the good of the society and state lie in accelerated economic growth in which each one of them has a constructive role. As for the youths, I would suggest to them that instead of chasing government jobs, they should acquire necessary technical or vocational skill to become self reliant and not get waylaid by glib promises and fall prey to undesirable elements. With abundance of natural resources within the state our youths need to identify opportunities and seize them to improve their and their families quality of life. I would like to advise our misguided youths who have picked up arms against their own kith and kin and the state, that they are chasing a mirage and their aims and goals are unattainable through violent means: instead, if they join the mainstream and contribute towards the economic growth of their people, their 'Tripura' stands to gain as a whole.