Litmus test for police as sordid political bickering intensifies
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: February 13, 2023 -

The on-going bickering between two major political organisations in the state as a fall-out of the chaotic television debate could be construed as political wannabes eager to hog the limelight and grab the attention of the party's leadership unmindful of the fact that their comments and attitudes in public platform are under intense scrutiny.

As arch rivals, neither the Congress party nor the BJP is expected to exercise restraint when it comes to drawing political mileage as had been the case in the run-up to elections.

However, at the juncture when there is no democratic exercise in sight and the government machinery is primarily focused on tackling the poppy menace and impressing upon delegates of the C-20 summit events, the charges and counter-charges being levelled against each other are certain to have left a bad taste and projected political organisations active in the state in poor light.

Though it's obvious that leaders of both the parties wouldn't back off till either amicable settlement of the on-going furore, which is most unlikely, or knock at the court's door to expose the guilty party, it is recommended that the latter option be adopted by both for prolonging the controversy has the potential to go out of hands and consequently create intense discord in the society for public supporters of the respective parties wouldn't remain idle in case the situation gets worsen.

The sit-in recently staged by Phayeng locals to denounce high-handedness of the police during their search for Congress party's youth vice president N Popilal signified restlessness of the public.

Moreover, BJP youth wing staging a similar protest demonstration on Saturday to demand arrest of the perpetrators involved in assaulting the two BJP youth members testify aggravation of the situation.

The sit-in protest staged in front of Congress Bhawan, BT Road on the same day to condemn the arson attempt at the party's office on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday is a grim reminder that tension has been escalating between the two political outfits contrary to the public's expectation that leaders of both parties would exhibit maturity and rein in their respective members.

For now, the Congress party is the underdog and has every reason to suspect that the law enforcement agencies are acting at the behest of the party in power.

As there had been past incidents of BJP workers torching effigies and kicking the gate of the Congress Bhawan and having heated exchange of words with Congress office bearers in the presence of police personnel, the suspicion will naturally deepen in case the police authorities could not track down those responsible for lobbing petrol bomb and eggs at the Congress office as well as the latest incident of firing shots at the residence of its vice president.

Similarly, whoever involved in beating up the two BJP youth leaders should be tracked down without which the situation might turn ugly and the rage wouldn't be limited to the two parties.

For a start, as CCTV cameras are installed on government structures and in private residences at locations where the incidents reportedly took place, the police may begin the probe by examining the footages captured.