LEST WE FORGET.....on 28th January 2012

Lai Loyumba Lamphel *

The time has come for the seemingly god given (sic… Indian constitution guaranteed) right to exercise our right to elect our representative to form a government for our state. Like always, our people (praza) seems to be suffering from a collective amnesia about the various issues that has continually plagued our small state in our daily lives.

Most Manipuris seems to be in some sort of perennial intoxication brought about by the unlimited supply of intoxicants and money that is being pumped into the masses by the so called politicians / social workers. The vocal and much respected womenfolk of our state too seem to be in a bind by the endless number of grand feasts (chakchanabas) and endless mataps of zaarda paan.

Lest we forget may I remind all of the vexing issues of the 10th assembly elections that we have always thought we’ll deal with firmly this time. But by the time the D-day of 28th January 2012 is closing near we seem to be too intoxicated and dulled to believe that it has been roses all the way.

Lest we forget, some of the points we must ponder before we exercise our precious vote (franchise) are:

1. The continual imposition of the controversial AFSPA that has spawned a whole new culture of extrajudicial executions, mental harassments, Atrocities, torture, disappearances, and sexual violation that has generated terror, maximizing control over whole populations, and the intentional destruction of the fabric of social, economic, and cultural life.
   
   
2. The continual failure to guarantee the basic amenities of human existence in the 21st century viz., power supply for a meager 2-3 hours/ day, non-existent water supply, roads in a medieval state, dismal health care system…the list is endless.
   
   
3. Corruption at a all-time high, 25 Lakhs for a police sub-inspector, 3 Lakhs for a VDF constable, 7 Lakhs for a nurse… Private auction for MPS/ MCS going as high as 30 -40 Lakhs…criminal/unpardonable acts committed every day for the last 5;10 years.
   
   
4. Dismal state of affairs in the education sector with the govt. schools and institutions having zero pass rates whereas, there is failure to check the mushrooming of substandard private schools and colleges charging exorbitant fees.
   
   
5. The much harped development of the two national highways for the last 10 years with nothing concrete being done till date save the highways are now fit for being converted to paddy-fields.
   
   
6. The failure of the state government to pursue the Indian Government’s “Look East Policy” that seems to be just plain hogwash / lip-service with no serious intent…so what we get is some OSO & Tin-fish from Myanmar and the ubiquitous Chinese inverters to tide over the perennial power-cuts instead of any tangible economic gains.
   
   
7. Stoic silence and Failure of the State as well as the Central govts. to ensure a continued supply of essential commodities in two heartless economic blockades, the latest being too recent in memory…petrol @ Rs. 200/ L, four Km long queues for petrol, LPG @ Rs. 2000/ cylinder( still @ Rs1500/ cylinder), tomatoes & onions @ Rs. 100…unedible mustard oil being dumped on us by unscrupulous businessmen…the list is endless.
   
   
8. Complete callous disregard for the law of the land…where a minister shoots the advocate general and gets away with it…where a ministers son kills a student in cold blood and gets a vacation in Bangalore for it…where some citizen is shot by people of higher ranks/ VIPs for the simple crime of not letting them overtake the vermins (read common people).
   
   
9. Unemployment at an all-time high…with more than 5 lakhs registered unemployed out of a population of 27 lakhs. Complete failure of private enterprise due to the prevailing law & order, poor power supply and endless Bandhs and Blockades.
   
   
10. Continued violence against women and children in the form of sexual assault, domestic violence, trafficking, child labor and issues of child soldiers etc being not addressed properly by the people in power.
    
    
11. Involvement of the powerful state (read police & politicians) and non-state actors in the highly lucrative drug/ arms trade and thereby as a fallout increasing the ever burgeoning numbers of drug addicts and the spiraling rise in crimes.
    
    
12. Who will give justice to Dr. Kishan, Token & Rajen??? Who will shed a tear for Rabina, Sanjit??? Who killed Roger Irom???
    
    
13. Is there politician who cares for Irom Sharmila in our state??? It seems she gets more attention and accolades from people outside our state or country.
    
    

There are another 101 reasons for not voting this present government into power but we also need to ponder if the so called alternatives are any different…My humblest appeal to all is to be not swayed by the last feast of sareng and yongchak emomba or that satiating kilos of pork and free-flowing Sekmai or that tightly folded green/ red Gandhi note on D-day. Please ponder and give your conscience a free run before you decide…lest we forget…