Shadow of NSCN (IM) in Outer PC : Sponsored candidate
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: April 10 2019 -

Sponsored candidate. Nothing wrong with this, but when the sponsors resort to strong arm tactics and threaten the villagers and the people to vote for the candidate of their choice then it nullifies the understanding of a free and fair polls.

An open secret it is but perhaps this is the first time that it has been made public of the Additional Chief Electoral Officer writing to the Additional DGP of the State police of the threats and reign of terror let loose by the NSCN (IM) to intimidate the villagers to vote for a particular candidate, Dr Lorho Pfoze in this case, of the NPF in the Outer Parliamentary Constituency.

Does not do the image of the candidate and the outfit any good and all the sensical things that Dr Lorho has had to say while canvassing for support will fall flat on the face due to the antics of the cadres of the NSCN (IM).

Let the people vote according to their own free will if the NSCN (IM) is there on behalf of the Naga people.

This should be the bottomline.

Also let the candidate himself tell the NSCN (IM) cadres not to canvass support for him using threats and intimidations.

This may sound a little far fetched but this is what is needed to address the trust deficit between the people of Manipur and the NPF for remember it is not only the Nagas who are voters in Outer Parliamentary Constituency but also people belonging to other communities such as Kukis, Meiteis and Meitei Pangals.

That Dr Lorho acknowledges this fact can be seen from the manner in which he tried to reach out to people of all communities and not only the Nagas.

If Dr Lorho is indeed elected, then he will be representing not only the Nagas but all the people who come under the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency.

This is a point which should not blow over the heads of the NSCN (IM) cadres.

The ongoing political negotiations between the NSCN (IM) and New Delhi should not be equated with the Lok Sabha elections and this is something which should be acknowledged by all.

If Dr Lorho fails to make it at the hustings, it should not be taken to mean that the people have rejected the peace process.

A plain and simple fact that the NSCN (IM) is obviously not willing to heed.

In threatening villagers to vote for a particular candidate, the NSCN (IM) will only end up conveying the message that they are there to represent the people through brute force, defeating the very understanding of being people’s representatives.

On the other hand it was also disturbing to note that the residence of the president of Churachandpur unit of the NPF was attacked some time back and two women were injured.

Such mindless violence should be done away with.

In just two days time, that is on April 11, the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency will go to polls and it is anybody’s guess how far the law enforcing agencies will be able to curb the activities of the NSCN (IM) cadres, who literally rule the roost in the Naga dominated districts of Manipur.

Use of force and threats in a democratic exercise such as electing the people’s representatives should not be reduced to an exercise of threat and coercion.