Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, December 07:
The CPI Imphal city district council has taken strong exception to the statement terming agitators and strikers in Manipur "parasitic class", reportedly made by the Manipur Governor Ved Marwah in the Sainik School, Imphal function held at Pangei on December 5 last.
Strongly criticizing the reported statement the unit maintained that a little bit of introspection on the course of development and events taking place in Manipur since its merger with the Indian Union in 1949 will reveal the naked truth that the real parasitic class is none other than the Indian (Manipuri included) ruling class which serves the interest of a handful of big bureaucrats, big industries and business and land owners who arc corrupt ID the core and callous to the well being of others that sucks the blood of the working class.
It said the agitating and striking govt as well as the would be govt employees included are not born parasites instead have been compelled to become so.
It observed that the state being geographically isolated, topographically and historically inconvenienced, its people have been long neglected by the power in the Centre which often makes its pawn out of the petty local politicians and legislators while being totally insensitive to the urgent needs of the people.
It also lamented that even after 50 years of Independence; Manipur having a population of hardly 24 lakhs and blessed with abundant rainfall is yet to have enough safe drinking water supply not to speak of irrigation for intensive cultivation despite crores of rupees having spent on irrigation projects since the 5th five year plant Instead of launching employment generating schemes and projects suitable for Manipur, more and more unnecessary post vacancies have been created over the years by power mongers in power in collusion with big officials to trap helpless army of educated job seekers resulting in the present crisis of over 80 thousands of govt employees languishing without salaries for months together and hundreds of would be employees protesting govt neglect.
Holding the successive govts at the Centre responsible for the current economic disaster in the state, it maintained that the main culprit is the governments both in the state and centre marked by insufficient and unstable regimes which solely is responsible for the employees and its families to suffer.
Stressing the need to tap the human and natural resources in the state, the CPI called for punishing the corrupt, confiscation of the wealth amassed by unholy means and disproportionate to known sources of income, legislate to stop sale and purchase of legislatures and to downsize council of ministers to a minimum of 10% of the full strength of the house as recommended by Sarkaria Commission instead of targeting the weak, impoverished and ignorant due to historical reasons.