The absence of opposition

Iboyaima Laithangbam *

The lone cry by Nimaichand Luwang, the MPP President, about the protracted Naga blockade, artificial scarcity of consumer items, petrolium products even after the "temporary suspension" of the blockade becomes an incoherent wailing in the political wilderness.

Had the 5 MPP MLAs (assuming the one who has not renewed his membership is still in the party) joined the people's campaign it would have been a banshee screech that Okram Ibobi and his associates could not ignore. Understandably, the national media are ignoring the peridoical outbursts of Luwang who is, for all practical purposes, ploughing a lonely furrow.

Other political parties supposed to be in the opposition had ceased long time back to champion the causes of the people. The damper came when the NCP had celebrated its anniversary admist the Naga blockade and the news came like a bolt out of blue since it was conspicuous by its inaction regarding to the sufferings of the people.

In this backdrop it is not surprising that there was not even a lukewarm response to the strike called given by the NDA. The BJP is a damp squib without even an elected representative here. Besides the CPI is a ruling coalition partner and its leaders could never have incurred the wrath of Sonia Gandhi and Okram Ibobi. The symbolic demonstration by the women's wing of the CPI did not create ripples at all.

In absence of an effective opposition in Manipur the Food and Public Distribution Minister Yumkham Erabot acted like an opposition leader by riding roughshod over the Naga blockade along highway 53. He had earned public accolade and was lionised as the hero.

However it was short lived since no convincing explanation had come forth on why the truckloads of LPG were not distributed to the people at a time a consumer was buying one cylinder at Rs 1500. In the backdrop there were hectic flurry of activity for contract works along highways 150 and 53. The well calibrated plan was that the PWD would handle the repairing and maintenance works of the highways and the strengthenings of the wobbly and dilapidated bridges.

Following some incisive questions there has been no more sound. Besides Kamal Nath will take many factors into consideration before handing the charge of the highways to the state government. The Zeliagrong groups which are objecting to the government move had threatened to launch agitations. The outcome is yet to be seen.

The livid people who were forced to wallow in scarcity and price hike while New Delhi was watching their sufferings from a safe distance naturally welcomed the announcement that the drivers shall boycott highway 39. The demands of the drivers are very reasonable and P. Chidambaram should not have remained stone deaf. His strange stand only heightens the sense of alienation and the step motherly treatment meted out to Manipur.

Without giving two hoots to the wishes of the people the non-Manipuri business sharks had started transporting their commodities along highway 39 for more profit. Albeit belated, these traders who are insensitive to the sentiment of the Manipuris were made to understand that they were taking a calculated risk by throwing the gauntlet to the people. What is clear now is that since New Delhi and Kohima shall never concede to the TDC demands the trucks and buses will continue to boycott highway 39.

Under the circumtances New Delhi should have galvanised the BRO into a flurry of repairing works. But as is their wont the slothful labourers are taking the entire day to remove a small rock of the size of a football from the highway or spade away a clod of earth from the landslide debris.

The impatient drivers are seen clearing the debris. They have also started taking stone in their trucks from Imphal free of charge to mend the craters and slippery highway. The BRO functionings are governed by the military like rules and regulations. If there had been any instances of dereliction of duty and other peccadiloes as insinuated by some loquacious Ministers an inquiry could be conducted so as to give apposite disciplinary punishments to the guilty.

However it will tantamount to putting the cart before the horse if the task of repairing and maintaining highway 53 changes hands now impervious to the remonstrations from some sections.

The opposition parties should have demanded a high level inquiry into highway 53 scam. Why was it not improved and mintained to the standard of asphalts seen elsewhere since fund was not in the way ? Except for Luwang all others are silent spectators to the insidious plan to take over highway 53. It is a negation of democracy that there is no opposition worth the name in Manipur.

The loud thinking of Gaikhangam that in future the opposition will support the Congress candidates in all elections is going to be prophetic.