Leadership change or PR not a solution to current impasse

Koijam Shiva Singh *

The present turmoil has undoubtedly stretched far beyond what one had expected and left behind trail of destruction not only physically and economically but also emotionally too. The question buzzing now is why the issue has been lingering for so long and who should be fixed.

In this context, what attracts one’s attention is arguably the need to have retrospection and vigorous analysis whether the present crisis really stands synonymous to mere law and order problem or otherwise. If the former is the case, then who should be held accountable and in what ways ?

To start with, Central Government had claimed conveniently that large chunks of Central forces are already deployed, that it had played its role already in dousing the flame that had engulfed the State and the onus lies on the State Government and the subjects here. So, if that is the case, then why peace still eludes in peripheral areas so far and this draws flak from many quarters as to where actually things went the other way round.

Worth mentioning here is also the fact that limited State machinery has already been stretched to the limit to diversify its presence in peripheral areas where violence was rampant or rather letting violence and lawlessness linger deliberately to create conditions to further their nefarious ill-designed goals and demands.

Unified command implanted under Security Advisor, setting aside traditional chain of command where CM being in-charge, appointments of new DGP, new Chief Secretary, new Secretaries for many departments highlights the uneasy fact of CM’s power being curtailed to the maximum and administration being grabbed by Central Government, thanks to the accusations and successful propaganda by one group or rather playing the victim card wonderfully and mischievously orchestrated successfully against the State Government of being biased.

Despite this, peace seems a distant cry, peace committee left in shatters. In its true manifestations, administration has been rested in the hands of Central Government, point to be noted, where State Government exists for just namesake and so by default sole responsibility lies with the Central Government and not with the State Government.

Then, what was witnessed were uneasy scenes where memoranda, complaints and reminders were submitted by different CSOs, stakeholders time and again including those submitted as claimed by Ministers and MP to PM highlighting the hardships and cries being faced by innocent civilians, seeking attention but unfortunately that all seems to have fallen to deaf ear, the reason for which everyone failed to realize but perhaps accused of indecisiveness and hesitancy on the part of Central Government to act in haste due to the complexity of the issues involved.

So, frustration naturally crops up amongst the public with patience running out and so does their belief in the Central leaderships’ indifferent attitude and what followed then was unleashing of anger against their elected representatives which of course is wrong and sidetracked from real issues out of frustration leaving democratic means in shatter.

Now, blame game runs amok that the culprits were general public and State Government too, that law and order has failed, but the real onus lies on the Central Government that came to control the administration by then.

So, to sum up what is being witnessed here is not a failure on the part of the State Government under the leadership of the incumbent CM, but that of Central Government for its indecisiveness, hesitancy and complexity of the issue involved and failure to pay heed to those democratic memoranda and complaints.

Now, leaving aside blame game, peace and reconciliation should be the given priority leaving aside politics for later. Preconditions for talks if at all is indispensable and should be based on merits, facts, without stubbornness, respecting geopolitical structure and law of the land and above all considering the hardships faced by common innocent civilians.

Change of leadership or imposition of President’s Rule should not be entertained at any cost as means to usher peace in the region because that will create more chaos and complexities rather than solving the problem. This would underline utter disrespect of the people’s mandate, but also set a wrong precedence that violence and coercion can change Government, shape policies to one’s favor using mob as human shields.

Political issues should be solved politically and any grievances should be addressed through Court of law and not through deliberate instigation of barbaric and shameless killings of innocent civilians to make illegitimate, factually and historically senseless and Constitutionally flawed demands met.

SoO cadres should be strictly reined in to their designated camps and dealt with firm hands and even heavy costs should be imposed to those who disrespect ground rules.

On the part of CSOs and other stakeholders in the valley, efforts should be made to maintain peace and refrain from any sort of violence that would create breeding grounds for imposition of President Rule in the State which obviously everyone would like to avoid.

Similarly Central Government and if possible State Government should rein in the CSOs and individuals in hill districts to shun provocations and reciprocate to path of reconciliation and not create unreasonable demands and provocation to derail peace process.

Any dialogue should be mediated by incumbent CM who represents democratically elected Government and any stakeholder who refuse to be part of peace and reconciliation, making illegitimate demands with stubborn attitude to derail peace process should be dealt with firmly by both Central and State Governments.

Honesty on the part of Central Government and sincerity is what people expect at this critical juncture also.