Again this is about playing with the sentiment of the common people. Every move, now and then is directly or indirectly related with the upcoming 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election. Yesterday we in the Imphal Times had pointed out how the controversies surrounding over the establishment of National Sports University in the state of Manipur has been using as a tool for campaigning the upcoming assembly poll by both the BJP and INC. And today too it is the condition of the Imphal Jiribam road that both the parties are considering as another effective tool.
Well, fifteen years ago, the Imphal-Jiribam stretch of National Highway is a major issue. Nongthongbam Biren, the MLA from Heingang Assembly constituency, who had recently tender resignation from the state assembly as well as the Congress party, had organized a mass movement to repair the road with money contributed from the public. At that time Mr. Biren was the Editor of a popular Manipur’s Newspaper and soon after he became MLA, the mobilization was let forgotten from the mind of the people.
But each time when there is a prolong economic blockade called along the National Highway, both the government as well as the transporters started talking about this road until the blockade called ended.
Fifteen years down the line now, nothing has change to the condition of the Imphal-Jiribam road, now NH 37. The condition is no better comparing those days.
The decision of the Transporters’ and Drivers’ Council to assist the government in repairing the road is a welcoming step. The congress government under the leadership of Okram Ibobi has now announced about the need for urgent repairmen of the road. But one wanders why only now when election is just four or five months from now.
It is often heard that, the High Ways are supposed to be maintained by the Central government. But the people of Manipur had already heard the Central government blaming the state government for its lack of corporation. This means the BJP which is in power at the centre is playing its election gimmick to the issue of National High way.
Every election time the condition of the road comes up in public sphere and blame game begins between political parties. But when the election days over the issue of this specific road will be forgotten and will be left as it is until another election days come to start their politics.
