Election euphoria is once more suppressing the peoples’ agitation in which 25 girl students in full uniform dared police hostilities braving the water cannon charges attempting to foil the democratic protest. The series of agitations spearheaded by the JCILPS has created turmoil in the state and the state government’s inability to deal with the issue has already affected the academic atmosphere in the state. Even after knowing what is going on in the state some learned individuals criticised the protest by students saying that they should be concentrating on their academic pursuits. 2 students had been detained and some are advising the students to stay away from the agitation. The moot point being that concerned citizens should also consider the fact that the future pillars of this nation have every right and responsibility to save the future generation. True leaders are borne from such students and not from contractors or drug smugglers.
Matured people of the state are now busy campaigning for election for their favourite candidate leaving aside the peoples’ movement. When the 25 courageous students are facing all odds and braving the police atrocities, many ladies and gentlemen of Imphal area are seen going from door to door begging for votes for their respective candidates.
Regarding the 3 Bills, only experts will know for certain where it went wrong, if anything is wrong at all. However there is no denying the fact that a system to safeguard the 38 plus indigenous communities is indeed the need of the hour. Every one of us knows that and the issue is a sentimental one for almost all Manipuris. At one of our write up we have presented our view about the need to review them to find out why and where two diametrically opposite groups emerged– for and against the Bills.
The demand for ILPS is a long standing one, and any such matter should not be treated as a game to be played for political gains. It is a matter of great surprise for the people of this state as to the inexplicable silence of the government. 9 dead bodies still remain without performing their last rites protesting against the 3 ILPS related Bills at Churachandpur. On the other hand students now have no fear to initiate any form of agitation to implement an Inner Line Permit System to check the flow of illegal migrants. And our political party leaders are busy canvassing for IMC election. The Congress which is in power in the State and BJP leading the NDA government at the centre are now engaging in a tough verbal war blaming one another without bothering for that section of the public who are not concerned with their political gambit but are struggling, even at the cost of their lives, for saving the future generation.
If one could recall, it is a fact that what is happening in the state now is the eventual fall out of the protracted negligence by this irresponsible government. The wait and watch policy of Mr. Okram Ibobi this time is stoking the fire of dissent over the whole society. The countdown for election has begun and he might think the issue will be diverted. However the irony of the elusive mindset and politically motivated actions- or rather inactions to be precise, is not lost on the disgruntled public who are edging towards the tipping point.
