Thousands turn up for flag hoisting ceremony of Nishikant ‘Manipur needs leaders with vision’

By Our Staff Reporter 
IMPHAL, Feb 1 4 : Independent candidate in Keishamthong Assembly Constituency and owner of The Sangai Express Nishikant Singh Sapam has urged all the political leaders of Manipur to start talking about solutions beyond talking about problems besieging the State.
Addressing a massive gathering during his flag hoisting ceremony at Kwakeithel Moirangpurel Lampak today, Nishikant Singh Sapam said that political leaders should start talking about the solutions to resolve many of the issues besieging the State.
Taking digs at the political leaders of the State, the Independent candidate minced no words in asserting that the political leaders of the day approach issues besetting the State like a debate indulged in by different civil societies.
It is time political leaders of the day start concentrating on how to work out solutions to the many issues here instead of just talking about the problems, said the Independent candidate.
“After being overlooked for the BJP ticket, I have come to know that the people of Manipur cannot be bought with money and are emotional,” observed Nishikant and added “For this I am proud to be identified as a Kangleicha born and brought up in this land.”  
The Independent candidate further said that even after being denied the BJP's ticket to face the election, Team Nishikant has only gone stronger and bigger.  
“I had earlier decided that even if I do not get the BJP's ticket, I would contest the election as an Independent candidate,” said Nishikant and added that 99.99 percent of  Team Nishikant have backed his decision to contest the poll as an Independent candidate.
Reiterating his firm stand against corruption, Nishikant again swore that he will not dirty his hand with even an ill gotten penny.
“I entered politics to serve the people and I am a businessman by profession. I have a loathing for anything that is ill gotten,” added Nishikant.
Saying that he is in politics to serve the land and the people, Nishikant said that if elected, he will never ever interfere in the transfer and posting of Government employees. There can be no room for corruption at any level, he said and added “I will not try to recover the resources I have spent during the election and will have nothing to do with the process of awarding contract works.”
My intention is to chart out a new history in the politics of Manipur, said Nishikant and added that he is in electoral politics to change things positively. This is a battle and Keishamthong AC is the battleground, he added.
On his being named the richest candidate, Nishikant said that he has nothing to hide. “I did not fudge the report on my wealth while submitting my affidavit for contesting the election. The wealth was earned through hard work and legally. I pay my income tax for every single penny  I have earned,“ he added.
“I don't know if other candidates have concealed their wealth while filing the affidavit or whether they cannot disclose all as they have not paid the income tax,” said Nishikant and added that he is not painting all the candidates with the same brush.
Wealth earned fraudulently without paying income tax is the source of all evil in Manipur, said the Independent candidate and added that it is such politicians who have been selling Manipur. Such elements will continue to bleed Manipur dry, he added.
Nishikant also urged the people of Manipur to seriously study how some political leaders have become so rich overnight. Did they earn it the right way or by means such as drugs or through corrupt practices, asked Nishikant. This is also a question which the people should raise.
Stating that there are reports of many candidates who have borrowed huge sums of money to meet the election expenses with some even mortgaging their landed properties, Nishikant said that once elected, such elements will try to recover the expenses incurred, thus giving birth to corruption.
Repeating a point which he had delivered earlier, Nishikant said that he will not try to recover the expenses incurred during the election. This is my promise to the people, he said and added that if this is violated, then he will readily face all the penalties imposed by the public.
Vision is extremely important to become a successful politician, said Nishikant. Apart from vision, it is also important for all the elected politicians to be upright and honest.
Vision will come from experience,  achievement, wisdom. And it is with a vision that policies and programmes are to be planned and executed, he added. All policies should have a vision, said Nishikant and added that a policy without vision is like asking a blind man to drive.
“Manipur does not have political leaders with vision.  I have entered the electoral fray because I see no political leader with a vision,” added Nishikant.
Manipur has no uniform land law, said Nishikant and added that this can lead to chaos and misgiving among the people in the decades to come and urged political leaders of the day to study whether the land law of Himachal Pradesh can be implemented here in Manipur. Deep research is needed to study the land law of Himachal and make it amenable to Manipur.
The Independent candidate also appealed to the voters of Keishamthong AC to choose wisely during the February 28 election.
Earlier before the public meeting, a flag with the election symbol of a Torchlight was hoisted at the candidate's residence at Sega Road Thouda Bhabok Leikai.
The public meeting at Kwakeithel Moirangpurel Lampak was presided by retired Director of Health Services, Dr Huidrom Hemchandra.
A number of prominent personalities including Padmashree Wareppa Naba, IMC Corporators M Joy, Oinam Romio, Member of Ward number 13 H Shantikumar, Dr Hamom Nabachandra, president of Team Nishikant of Ward number 9 Ch Iboyaima, president of senior citizens of Team Nishikant L Tombi, Dr Naorem Joy, L Kokngang, Laishram Debo, State awardee M Upendro, Anoubam Meghachandra,  Hamom Kumar, Akoijam Birjit, Ashem Ibohal Singh and Sh Sukhdev attended as presidium members.