Will the PM volunteer to come ?
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: October 22 2011 -

It is undoubtedly heartening to be informed that the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Indian national Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who is also Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre, will be arriving at Imphal in November to inaugurate various projects implemented under special packages of the Central Government.

Presence of the two central leaders in the state will be even more significant for it is highly anticipated that they would not leave Manipur without announcing some more major packages.

The delight upon hearing the news, however, compels one to ponder whether the central leaders would volunteer to come here, especially at such a time when the demand for upgrading Sadar Hills to a full-fledged district had been a raging issue.

The ongoing agitation over Sadar Hills demand is without doubt forcing the general public to endure severe inconveniences as lifelines connecting Manipur with other parts of the country are being used as a plank for both advocates of the demand and those opposing the very concept of a new district.

While available resources along with maximum man-power are being utilised to bring in essential commodities on a regular interval, thereby emboldening the Government of Manipur to claim that there is negligible impact of the ongoing agitation, it will be a foolhardy presumption that the common people are living without any discomfort.

besides the sadar Hills issue there is a similar demand by the people of Jiribam sub-division whose mode of agitation at present is limited to bandhs and general strikes, with the apparent concern that going ahead with the proposed economic blockade will further aggravate suffering of the masses.

The possibility of Jiribam people deciding to throttle the lifeline cannot be ruled in case the Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson decide to visit Manipur as it is natural for any agitating body that their movement has the desired and strongest impact.

Over and above these two issues it should be remembered that in pursuit of 'alternative arrangement' for the Nagas the United naga Council and its sister organisations have already aired their angst against the Centre's silence on the matter.

If these issues are not enough then there is the movement for repealing of the draconian AFSPA with voices of discontentment having taken a national perspective through the joining of prominent citizens for the cause, which Irom Chanu Sharmila had been spearheading for over a decade now.

Taking into account all these niggling issues one is compelled to comprehend whether the two central figures might prefer to make their presence here in the State for various hardships faced by the people is being blamed on alleged indifferent attitude of the Central Government and incompetency of the State authorities in tackling the sensitive issues.

For the ruling congress in the State arrival of the Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson will certainly be an elixir ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections, most certain to be conducted in the early part of next year.

While the State Congress party will be hoping to reap benefits from the two leaders' visit and further strengthen its position here, it is beyond comprehension that in some other parts of the country the influence of the Congress organisation has slightly declined, if outcome of recently held by-elections is any indication.

Inspite of the Secular Progressive Front Government here in Manipur being a coalition of the Congress party and CPI the former is already enjoying a clear majority on its own and is still considered a formidable force to reckon with.

However, presence of the Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson in the state when assembly elections is just round the corner will be an added bonus to the party leaders and workers, and it is expected that every effort would be made for inauguration of various projects by the two central leaders.

In addition to dedicating the projects to the people of Manipur it cannot be ruled out that State Congress leaders might be harbouring aspiration for dramatic approval to demands for the districts with the two central leaders officially announcing the same and win over support of certain section of the society.

While winning over the people will automatically bolster morale of the Congress party ahead of the assembly elections, visit of Dr Manmohan and Sonia Gandhi for inauguration of only the projects will certainly fail to reach out to the masses who had been suffering a lot, an issue which the opposition parties will surely rely on to wrest power from the Congress