What should Manipur look forward to? Posers before polls
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: October 09, 2021 -

The question is, what should Manipur look forward to or what is feasibly possible for the people of the State to look forward in the near future?

This is the right time to raise this question, especially since Manipur would be going to polls in the early part of next year and for once it would be prudent for the people to lay down what they want.

Let different political parties and even candidates have their own poll manifestoes but it is now more than right that the people lay down on what issues the elections should be fought.

Tried and tested, all the major political parties would be and this is perhaps the time now for the voice of the people to be tested.

Maybe easier said than done but efforts ought to be made to lay down under what different agenda the political parties should fight the elections.

This is where the sincerity of the people becomes crucial.

And to be able to have the conviction and to have the sincerity to do this, it is important that everyone is able to raise questions such as why people feel it necessary to note that there are no bandhs or the highways have remained free for days or months or even years.

Or better still why is it that people feel obliged to say thank you when there is no unscheduled power cuts and where there is regular water supply?

These are questions which ought to be raised and sincerely at that and not be taken in by tall promises, for these are things which everyone must have heard every five years or whenever the next Assembly election is near.

What is it that the people expect from the Government? Be very clear that the least that people expect is a Government which is sensitive to its voice of despair, that voice of anger and frustration when the power supply goes off without any rhyme or reason in the dead of the night or just when the family is sitting down to dinner.

That one should be talking about something as basic as power supply in one's house in this age should set the Government thinking.

The people don't expect five star treatment but at least the basic necessities of life such as regular power supply, regular water supply, roads which can be called roads etc are what people expect.

Take a look at the roads of some leiraks and leikais and one will get a fair idea of what it is like to have extremely dusty roads when it does not rain and slushy and muddy roads when it does.

Time also to ask the Government why so many parents feel it necessary to send their children outside Manipur to study, especially after their Class XII.

Blame it on the disturbances in the academic pursuit of the students ?

This is again where the failure of the Government may be pointed out.

These are some basic questions that the people may raise in the run up to the elections and these fundamentals should guide how votes are cast.

Leave the business of governance to the Government but take the responsibility of raising questions which ought to be raised, especially in the run up to the elections.