Senior citizens for competent candidates
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 03 2012:
Categorically stating that good governance has been eluding Manipur for the last 20 years, the Senior Citizens for Society has appealed to all the people to elect only responsible and competent candidates in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly election.
Speaking at a press meet at their Nagamapal office this afternoon, secretary of the Society Khaidem Mani stated that it is the MLAs who would enact several legislations for delivering good governance to the public.
To be an MLA, one needs to be valiant, committed and he/she should have thorough understanding of laws.
It is in the State Assembly where effective policies should be formulated to address myriad issues such as unemployment, transport infrastructure, education, civic amenities, healthcare, insurgency and human rights violation and also deliver good governance to the people, Mani asserted.
Construction of dams, buildings, bridges and irrigation canals are all routine works.
Stating that not a single FIR has been registered in connection with any case of human rights violation, Mani highlighted the need to elect people to the State Assembly who have vision and ability to deliver good governance.
Noting stringent measures taken up by the Election Commission of India to check bargaining voting right with money as praiseworthy, Mani appeal to the people not to forgo this golden opportunity.
He exuded that the forthcoming elections can bring certain positive changes in the State.
General secretary Prof Sadananda pointed out that out of the 543 incumbent MPs, around 300 MPs are millionaires.
Moreover, there are many MPs in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha who have criminal antecedents.
In the last 20 years, money power and muscle power have become determining factors in both Parliamentary and Assembly elections.
Because of the all these reasons, one finds it hard to believe that the forthcoming elections would be free and fair.
Yet, people need to extend full cooperation to all the measures taken up by the ECI towards this end.
Vice-president L Lalit said that Manipur has been plaqued by the twin problem of several movements bereft of logic and absence of good administration.
To save Manipur from the unfolding downfall, people must judiciously exercise their right to vote this time, Lalit said.