CBI raided residence of Okram Ibobi in connection with Manipur Development Society scam recently. The government is late but it has nevertheless delivered a promise to an extent it made to come down heavily on corruption during the time of Congress. The people should appreciate this move from the government and expect more from it , such as Loktak mutlicrore scam which PM himself mentioned in his speech in Manipur. We should also expect some action against those who were involved in extrajudicial killing also, given that BJP leader Ram Madhav said that these would be taken care of once BJP comes to power in the state. These actions from the government are expected by the people and they will appreciate it. It has been quite some time and the government’s action on MDS scam in late. This makes us go beyond the narrative of a righteous government going after ex corrupt politicians and officials while interpreting the government’s recent action against MDS scam especially when the state is facing severe economic and political crisis. Should we to expect action from this government on these matters at only at opportune moments of the ruling party, say before the election or at the time of a political crisis?
Government’s stand against corruption needs appreciation but the timing of its action rouses suspicion. Its action comes when the state burns with CAB row and Framework agreement. The action attacks the ex-CM at a time when the opposition in the legislative assembly, civil society organization and the masses are after the state government on these two issues. It points towards two things, other than BJP keeping its promise to go after corruption. First, it could be seen as an attempt to raise popular sentiment for BJP as people should see that it also deliver its promises even if some stand it takes might seem against the people of Manipur. At this, political and economic juncture it needs this to strengthen its position. Second, the move definitely hurts the congress and at the time when the people, civil society organizations and the opposition wants a special session of the state assembly. The contradiction between the government and the civil society organization has sharply increased after the government turned back on its promise of calling a special session of the assembly soon. This also reminds us of the recent action against the ex-Union Home minister and Finance Minister P Chidambaram. The action took place at a time when the first signs started appearing of Indian economy going sliding down to the lowest moments of UPA years. Now, Chidambaram is in jail but the Indian economy did not improve and unemployment rates are still very high. Can we expect the same fate for Okram Ibobi and the state of Manipur, similar to Chidambaram and Indian economy? The matter should not divert the attention of the people from their struggle against CAB and the vigilance it is maintaining against the Framework Agreement because ex-CM, whether he goes to jail or not, these issues burning the state do not go away.
