Many moons have passed since the state was shocked into spontaneous indignation and abrupt action by an incredibly huge haul of drugs from the Imphal Tulihal Airport with indications of the connivance of a very influential and ruthless cartel. The incident proved to be the tipping point whence various other evidences and actual cache of drugs started to be unearthed, and along with it the evidence of involvement of the high and mighty became crystal clear. The euphoria of the public over the spurt in the security and intelligence activities in intercepting and apprehending the smugglers was short-lived as the rulers, in a frantic bid to erase the increasingly clear trail of the murky deals and dangerous liaisons, disbanded the Special Intelligence Unit which was making amazing headway into revealing the kingpin in the whole drug smuggling operations in the state. The incident also amply displayed the ruthless and vindictive character of the state government in no uncertain manner when it comes to protecting the self interest of those in power. The mockery of public opinion and sensitivity of the people have reached another level, and if the present is any indication, the once infuriated public have but forgotten the matter altogether. Perhaps those peddling power and pelf knew the pulse of the public way more than anticipated or expected, and that the perfunctory denials and pretence of concern was a studied ploy to lull the public anger, secure in the knowledge of the predictability and naivety of the common man.
Money mellows the minds of the cynics and the critics- or at least almost always. The likelihood of many a detractors and investigators having their objectives swayed by wads of currencies and incentives has kept the public on tenterhooks about the outcome of the whole disturbing drama. However, with the passage of time, the once horrifying incident has begun to be distanced from the sort public memory, and will eventually fade into oblivion. More frighteningly, those who were considered as parasites of the society poisoning the youths and destroying the future of the state will eventually shore up enough resources and manpower, probably the only way they ever knew, and emerge as social activists and self- projected philanthropists out to take the state towards progress and prosperity. There will always be a coterie of hangers on diligently following such affluent public enemies for the occasional leftover crumbs thrown their way to keep them suitably interested and tenable.
If the public is to see positive changes, witness justice delivered and enable those harming the society to serve their just sentence, then it is time to realize that the power they are trying to fight against are the very power they have entrusted their representatives, and that it is ultimately in their hands to shape the destiny and the future of the society. The only golden rule one must follow to ensure that the invaluable universal suffrage is transformed into an enabling force, is to vote with the mind and not the heart. It is time to unleash the power of the common man and clear the scourge from the society for good.
