Easing the pressure tactics : Three announcements, nothing done
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: March 08, 2013 -

Ease the pressure tactics. May not exactly be this, but it comes close to this. In less than 30 days, the State Government has talked about handing all drugs related cases to the Central Bureau of Investigation or some other independent agency, not once, not twice, but thrice.

On February 19, 2013, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam informed the media that the Cabinet has decided to hand over all drugs related cases, including the Tulihal airport case of January 11 to the CBI.

On February 27 again, Gaikhangam informed the media that the State Government is studying the option of handing the Pallel drug haul case of February 24 either to the Narcotics Control Bureau or the CBI.

Then on March 4, Government spokesman and Education Minister M Oken briefed the media on the decision of the State Cabinet to hand over the Pallel case to the CBI.

Not that the CBI is the magic word to crack down on the drug cartel or the network of drug barons, but the three public announcements, coming in quick succession, certainly went some way in demonstrating that the Government was indeed serious about coming down hard on the drug trade.

Fast forward to March 8 morning and the fact is that the State Government is yet to intimate the CBI of its decision. Damage control exercise can at best be a Public Relations tactic and the failure of the State Government to even ready the official process of handing the case/s over to the CBI suggests that it is more than satisfied with merely easing the pressure off from its shoulder.

It stands that any official procedure, through the proper channel, will take time, but February 19 to March 7, should have been more than enough time to get through the nitty gritty of officialdom and present the decision of the State Government to the Centre.

This certainly is not how sensitive issues, such as the Tulihal drugs seizure case and the Pallel case should be treated.

The sense of urgency is lacking and this should give more than enough room to doubt the intention of the State Government.

Apart from a senior Army officer, holding the rank of Colonel and the son of a sitting Congress MLA, there is as yet nothing much to show that the Government is intent on cracking down on the big fishes and unmask their identities in the public domain.

Compulsion of politics, which may be read as saving the blushes of the Government ?

It is not only about a question of hitting out at the drug trade but is also about taking up remedial steps to plug the loopholes which have come to define the system.

It is also about the unholy nexus between the people in corridors of power and elements who are out to twist and bend the system to suit their personal agenda at the cost of society as a whole.

To really understand the crux of the matter, the issue should be seen beyond the drugs seized at Tulihal or Pallel and acknowledge that in as much as the angst of the people is directed against the actual drug traffickers, it is also directed against the establishment.

It is this which the Government and the men running the affairs of the State should see.

All the more reason why the Government and people in the corridors of power should not be seen to be treating the issue casually.

Not the time to talk in two tongues.

But then this may just amount to asking too much from a Government, which has announced thrice, in less than thirty days, that drugs related cases would handed over to an independent agency, but has nothing substantial to show that something has been done to actualise this.