The incorrigible Lion *(read-Government)*

By Vicky Nameirakpam *

A leader at your level is supposed to lead us. You are expected to set examples so we can believe that our vote is not wasted. Imagine what would have happened if all us sparing your select few did follow your example. I'd be known as 15% too! The funny thing is you don't even deny that.

To us, the majority who are often victimised by your men feel that we are being ruled by a lion in a jungle rajneeti. When you escape to other far flung places we sing the famous song "The lion sleeps tonight" except that instead of being in peace we create a stir that shakes your confidence and leaves you shaky in your seat as the king of the jungle. Then, you return amidst your blanket of security to the lesser mortals and attempt to resolve the chaos. Who by the way ,are adamant that you leave the seat or the jungle.

Of course, you duck your brazen face behind your almost vanishing mane and consult your cubs whom you have made fat with corruption. They in return having being awarded with plump titles of serving under you work on a solution. They suggest you go back on your words!! How smart is that?

What then happens to the other animals in the jungle? What if they decide to approach the other lion in the next jungle? Who by the way is much agile with a maintained mane. Would the corrupt and incompetent lion come running around with his cubs with bunches of bananas to the other smaller animals and ask to be voted as the king yet again? And you seriously expect that they would forgive you and accept your bribe?

Finish the story the way you want. To each his own. However, Dear Government, you really have gone beyond governing us. You have been killing us and now being caught with your hand deep inside the cookie jar.

We know that you are being cornered by proofs and helplessness and so you react this time only because you have been caught. Save your face and suspend the subordinates. We wish we could buy that solution. But nada! Had you done your job for which you are being paid, the state of affairs would not have been deplored to this extent.

What about the many others who have been fake encountered? Or is it their bad luck that nobody in the vicinity shot pictures of the action? We are convinced that this time your men with guns (who like to call themselves monsters) have learnt a lesson. Perhaps next time when they want some action they'd be careful and go some place far and isolate and get it done with.

Are they sick in the head or what? Don't they have the brains to realise they have a family too and by getting tens of thousands for an award in killing the insurgents like you call it, they are only asking for trouble. We live in a lawless land and this despite being ruled by your Mafioso activity on one hand and the insurgents on the other. And we have the audacity to call other nearby states corrupt!!

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you lost your control. One day you become one of us and you're on the streets when the men with guns (trained by you) fake encounter your near and dear ones. You see old habits die hard!

The then government suspends the men for their action. Next, they also offer ex-gratia and a job. Would that satisfy you? Would that really bring back the dead? Is that compensating enough? Wouldn't you at that point, get tempted to take the law in your hands and go after the suspended men to pay back in a fit of rage?

And that is usually how the innocent becomes a militant.

How many more tehelka stings do you need before your government starts to feel a fraction of how we do? Perhaps these many curfews and strikes don't' affect your routine.

For you, you just have to use your power and networking to get things up and running the way you want it. To us, it makes a world of a difference. You see, we don't have vehicles with a beacon light to siren complete with motorcades for a blanket of security (If that is really how you define security) to clear the road for us making us feel like your father bought and tarred the road for your use only.

Go ask the woman selling perishables so she can feed her family of how she feels about these strikes and curfews. Yet, she supports it despite the odds because her son has also been fake encountered by your men. It took 12 pictures on Tehelka to put in you in a spot.

Unfortunately this old lady had none. Do you see the spirit in these old ladies on the road asking you to step down and reform rules? Or do you think its fun for them to go hungry and crazy on the streets getting tear gassed at?

We have seen and witnessed enough already of what these commandos under your governance are capable of doing. What is going to take to perhaps make amends?

How about giving way to respect for life and dignity? We have made you very, very rich and yet your intellect doesn't seem to follow suit. It's shrinking with every bribe you demand for a job placement or an issuance of a D.O letter.

Please allow the change we need in the state's administration. The state is going from bad to worse and in the last few years since we were made to believe in your ability to govern us, it has only increased in crime and violence contributed by the militants and your commandos. If only you didn't seek the many lakhs while offering them a job they would not look for ways to repay the many loans they took to secure their job.

Certain powerful leaders step down on being charged with a single corruption case. While here in Manipur, there are hundreds and thousands to your name and yet you are determined to still dig for more gold. Truly one of a kind!

We are disgusted to think that we made you our leader. Our sanity hangs by a thread- respect for life. Honestly, you don't seem to feel our sentiments.

We sure wish you did.