I am willing to resign: Col Bhubon

IMPHAL, January 21: Former BJP state unit president, Col (retd) Haobam Bhubon, MLA, said he is willing to take Rishang's dare to the Opposition MLAs and resign if that will ensure President's Rule and usher in a fresh mandate of the people. Speaking to IFP today, Col Bhubon said the present government has taken the state to its worst ever nadir and deserves to be replaced at any cost. Taking a page out of the Army manual for discipline, he said there are no bad soldiers, there are only bad officers. If the leadership is good, those who follow will also have to be good, he explained. "And this is where the state is lacking at the moment." Col Bhubon said. Manipur is in a bad shape today, and if nothing is done to rectify things, it may slip into a situation beyond salvage, he said. Col Bhubon who was sitting with a pile of books on insurgency and counter insurgency measures, when IFP caught up with him, said if alienating the people is the worst mistake insurgents can make, so it is with those involved in counter insurgency, he said. The trouble is, those looking after the matter, do not read. The atrocities committed after encounters and ambushes are totally un-necessary and ultimately will prove to be counterproductive, he said. "Brute force is not the solution to insurgency by any means," he added. On the BJP's strength in the Assembly, he ridiculed allegations that the Samata Party with just one original MLA is performing much better, having increased its number to 11 even if default. It was not a case of the Samata Party increasing its strength, but more in the nature of an invasion and final takeover by a major force from outside. No outside power speculators would have thought about the BJP on the same line, as it would have been in the nature of seeking umbrage under it and not grabbing the rein.