Meghalaya shows the way
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: May 21 2015 -
People welcome that the Meghalaya government has started actions against the civil organisation which had called a general strike on a public issue.
This is in letter and spirit of the directives of the Supreme Court.
The people in Manipur wish they had a Chief Minister and other ministers of the same genre, grit, dedication and intrepid disposition.
The Supreme Court directive on the blockade of highways and other forms of disruptions is clear and unequivocal.
In other words, the Manipur government should have taken up effective steps to counteract the strikes, blockades and wildcat agitations.
It must be admitted in fairness that it is big news in Manipur when there is no such obstruction any day.
The overall destructive impact of these disruptions in the state economy and other developmental works is well known.
Prices of consumer items are much higher than those prevailing in mega cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai or Bangaluru.
Powerful and influential sections had ganged up with the oil pump owners for mutual gains and they had learned long time back that is self defeating to bite the hand that feeds.
This explains why no finger is lifted against the black marketing of fuel in the state where there are strikes and blockades about 250 days in a year.
The electorate never quizzed the representatives why they are rather supporting the disruptions though the tax payers are forced to pay higher prices.
Ibobi himself told the House that various armed groups are extorting Rs 30 crore every day along the highways from the vehicles of Manipur.
It was over 10 years ago and by now the figure must have jacked up considerably.
It is not too late to emulate the Meghalaya Chief Minister since it concerns the relief to the people and at the same time the established government could semaphore a message that some elements cannot make a sport of the Apex Court ruling.
The government should emerge from the rabbit warrens where they have been in a sleeping mode all these years.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.