Manipur minister first in NE to ride bicycle to office

Advocates bicycle instead of two wheeler vehicle and cars inorder to conserve fuel as oil being a non-renewable source of energy.

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Nov. 30 (EMN): Manipur’s Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Karam Shyam Singh become the first minister in the BJP led coalition government in the north eastern state to ride bicycle to attend office and cabinet meeting at Chief Minister’s office in Imphal.
Though the minister’s move to attend office by riding a bicycle every Thursday evoked mixed response, Minister Shyam accompanied by three of his personnel staffs rode mountain bike (bicycles) straight to Old Secretariat office at Imphal secretariat complexes from his Sanjenthong official quarter covering about one km in the morning.
“The idea to ride bicycle (to attend office) is to bring a change and also to give a message to the masses,” says Minister Shyam. “One should practice austerity to bring a new positive wave in the political system for a new Manipur.”
Speaking to reporters, he said, “The mindset among the general public that riding a bicycle lowers the status needs to be changed. The youths should not feel ashamed of riding bicycle to school/college and coaching classes.”
Expressing that the elected members must practice austerity to bring a new positive wave in the political system, he hoped that other cabinet ministers also follows the suit.
Minister Shyam assured that he will continue to ride bicycle to attend office and that he will stand by his decision.
The minister who was elected on the Lok Jansakhti party ticket from Langthabal constituency in Imphal West district in the last assembly polls, had formally announced to ride bicycle to attend office on every Thursday while flagging off ceremony of ‘Cyclothon’ to conserve fuel at Indian Oil Corporation depot at Malom in the outskirt of Imphal on Sunday (Nov. 26).
He had been appealing to promote bicycle instead of two wheeler vehicle and cars to conserve fuel as oil is non-renewable source of energy. Manipur requires 70 kilolitres of petrol, 200 kl of diesel and 80 kl of cooking gas monthly.
Chief Minister N Biren also encouraged and appreciated his decision to cycle to workplace.