Bickering over Yatra
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: January 12, 2024 -

POLITICAL bickering between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Indian National Congress (INC) over the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' proposed to be launched by Rahul Gandhi from the historic Hapta Kangjeibung in Imphal on January 14 is something that the people living in the strife-torn northeastern Indian state of Manipur are least concerned about at the moment, nor, we, at The People's Chronicle, would like to waste our precious space on passing a comment on it.

With every passing day bringing in news of more disturbing incidents like the sniper attack on SP (Special Commando) Th Krishnatombi in the border town Moreh, 'heavy fuel' leakage from a defunct power station in Leimakhong that would do more harm than just contaminate the local waterways for years to come and the recovery of bodies of three men out of four from Kumbi area of Bishnupur district who went missing after having gone to cut firewood in the nearby hill, etc., we expected that all the political parties and their leaders would have realised by now the seriousness of the violent confrontation that has been going on between the people of Kuki-Chin and Meitei/Meetei communities in Manipur since May 3 last and the resultant suffering being endured by people of all communities living in this multi-ethnic society, regardless of their stand and position on the current conflict, for more than 8 months.

But it seems the political parties as well as their leaders are yet to mend their ways and learn any lesson as they continue to live under the impression that the humanitarian crisis in Manipur is a perfect God-given opportunity for them to indulge in petty politics of deriding each other and earn some brownie points in the process.

Nothing could be more obnoxious than this political mindset of exploiting the suffering of the people to whom the political parties would invariably go to for begging their precious votes when elections come.

The BJP government in Manipur led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh may have finally given the permission to use the historic Hapta Kangjeibung in Imphal for launching the proposed 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' on January 14 with "limited number of participants", but the bickering that had been witnessed between the ruling BJP and the opposition INC since the announcement of 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' has shown their true colour towards the more than eight months old humanitarian crisis, which has so far claimed hundreds of precious human lives and rendered thousands of families homeless, forcing them to seek shelter in various relief camps setup across the length and breadth of the state.

Soon after the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' from Manipur to Mumbai to be led by Rahul Gandhi, the scion of Nehru-Gandhi family, was announced, many BJP leaders in Manipur including Chief Minister N Biren Singh were quick to react by saying that the Yatra would not be supported by the people.

Yet, when permission for using Hapta Kangjeibung as venue for launching the Yatra was sought; the state administration hesitated from giving the nod citing law-and-order situation, which the Chief Minister has been saying is improving; until the Congress party made it clear that the Yatra would flag off from Manipur at any cost.

On the other hand, Congress party has been reiterating that the proposed Yatra is only a walk for peace and not a political event and Imphal has been chosen for launching the 6,713 km-long Yatra keeping in mind a beautiful state like Manipur has been embroiled in an unfortunate conflict for the past few months.

But everyone knows why the grand old party of India, which is trying desperately to regain its former glory, has planned the Yatra just ahead of the Parliamentary elections in the country with route laid out to cover 15 states and 100 Lok Sabha constituencies.

After enduring suffering for more than 8 months, people of Manipur are nobody's fool anymore.

This is the truth and a reality that all the political parties and their leaders need to understand, sooner the better.