Of bullshitters and their attitude
Beyond the conduct code
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: February 10, 2012 -

First of all, we need to look beyond the election code of conduct, though this is important and is probably central to the subject.

Convening a Cabinet meeting and taking crucial decisions even as the election code of conduct is in force is a damning statement of an attitude that has been ingrained in the psyche of the political masters.

It is an attitude of 'care a damn' and clearly the roosting of a class of 'bullshitters' is evident.

A number of crucial decisions were taken during the Cabinet meeting held in the evening of February 8 with the rider 'pending approval of the Election Commission of India' and the farce of it all becomes all that more apparent.

The decisions include proroguing the 12th session of the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly, compensation to the families of the four polling officials killed at Tampi polling station in Chandel Assembly Constituency by way of providing a Government job to the next of kin plus ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs each in recognition of their diligence to duty as well as ex-gratia to the family members of M Ratan, who was killed in the bomb attack near the residence of Assembly Speaker I Hemochandra a few days before the polls.

The Cabinet further decided to compensate the family of a BSF jawan who was killed in a road accident at Nagaland while returning to base after election duty here.

Decision to compensate the family members of three other civilians killed in poll related violence was also adopted during the Cabinet meeting.

The decisions by themselves are fine and no one would grudge the compensations announced by the Cabinet, though the same may not be said about the decision to amend the existing Manipur Health Service Leave Rules to allow MBBS doctors to pursue PG courses so as to make up for the shortage of specialists in the State.

This is however besides the point, for the matter of greater importance is the timing of the Cabinet decision.

What were the compelling reasons for the Cabinet to convene the meeting and take crucial decisions at this point of time? The timing is suspect and the agenda that drove the Cabinet to adopt such crucial decisions with such speed can be anything but welfare measures for the families of the deceased.

With complaints of electoral malpractices pouring in and accusations between candidates and political parties flying thick and fast, repoll in some polling stations of some Assembly Constituencies is a foregone conclusion and this is where we smell a rat.

It is nothing less than trying to capitalise on the tears and grief of the family members whose near and dear ones were killed in the line of duty.

It a display of sheer insensitivity.

There can be nothing more unethical than piggy riding on the sense of loss and grief of family members whose near and dear were killed in tragic incidents and this is what is most galling.

Prima facie, everything indicates that the decisions of the Cabinet were taken with an eye on the impending repolls and this is all the more reason why this should be trashed by the Election Commission of India.

"We will do what we want, damn your sensibilities" is the message that was rung out loud and clear and such a mindset could not have emerged over night.

It is an extension of the sheer display of arrogance by the Government when the people and the State reeled under the impact of the 121 days of economic blockade last year.

It is a reflection of the damn care attitude that the people witnessed in the aftermath of the July 23, 2009 BT Road incident.

Compensate the loss of lives.

Take up welfare measures for the bereaved families but do not belittle the immense sense of loss primarily for electoral gains.

This is what we see.

Why wasn't the approval of the ECI sought before the Cabinet decisions were adopted? This 'pending the approval of the ECI' line is nothing but trying to 'bullshit' one's way.

The Election Commission of India should trash the decisions adopted by the Cabinet.

A case of arrogantly ignorant or ignorantly arrogant ? Either way, there is just no ground on which the recommendations of the Cabinet can be acceptable to the conscience of all thinking people and Man is a thinking animal.