Rs 180 for a litre of petrol :: Onion and petrol divide
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: January 17, 2012 -

As journalists one question that unfailingly stumps us and leaves us groping for an answer is, 'what are the issues that are going to decide the outcome of the election ?"

This can be acutely embarrassing at times, especially if this poser comes from media persons based outside the State but at the same time, this should not come as too big a surprise to anyone, who have seen, canvassed, discussed, enjoyed, despaired, voted or stayed away from the elections ever since Manipur became a full fledged State in 1972.

Manipur has seen it all and survived many ordeals, ranging from crippling economic blockades, dastardly killings by both the State and non-State actors, large scale corruption, non-existent civic amenities-it has survived on a staple of 6/7 hours of power supply in a day of 24 hours for the last 30 or 40 years, a few hours of water supply twice or thrice a week now and we are talking about Imphal, the capital city, she has seen the dignity of the common people trampled under the boots of those who come under the category of the political class, the suited, booted public servants, the numerous sons of the soil and the uniformed personnel.

These are not aberrations but have been the defining characteristics of this place for well over three decades and yet there is nothing to suggest that things will take a turn for the better.

As things stand today, power supply has become history, with all the localities in Imphal having to cope with 30 minutes or so of electricity on a given day. Education is at its nadir with those who can afford sending their children and wards to study in institutions outside the State.

Trust and confidence amongst the different communities, who are otherwise touted to have co-existed for centuries have eroded to such an extent that it has to be camouflaged under some terms such as Ching-Tam Amattani. What was once a meaningful slogan has today been reduced to nothing more than a shambolic gesture.

So what are the issues which are likely to factor in on the minds of the people as they line up outside the polling booths to punch in the button of their choice, come January 28 ? The Rs 180 or so one had to pay for a petrol of litre some time back ?

The pathetic power supply ? The roads which go from dusty during the dry season to slushy during the rainy season ? Not surprisingly political parties have promised to address the issues which have been mentioned above, if the election manifestoes released by some of the major political parties such as the BJP, the NCP and the MPP are any indications.

Territorial integrity is one common thread that runs through all the manifestoes of the political parties, but no party has addressed the politics of the threat hanging over the territorial sanctity of Manipur.

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act finds a prominent mention in the manifestoes of the BJP, NCP and the MPP but remember it was the Congress in 2007, which said nothing about it but swept the polls.

Does this mean that AFSPA cannot be an issue? No, it can and should be an issue. The tragedy is, no political party has cared to learn a lesson from the 2007 election. We have already commented on the BJP's approach to AFSPA in its manifesto and what has the NCP got to say about this? We quote a part of their manifesto on AFSPA-'NCP, Manipur reiterates its demand to repeal the inhuman and much abused AFSPA, 1958 as a token of honour to Human Rights.'

If AFSPA is only about human rights violation then it should have gone the way of TADA-revoked or repealed. That it has not, despite being in force for over 40 years, is damning testimony that it needs to be viewed beyond the question of human rights violation.

The provisions of AFSPA do not apply to the State police, but this has not stopped them from crossing their line and there have been numerous instances of gross human rights violation by the cops and there is nothing more evident about this than the July 23, 2009 BT Road incident.

And the question of abusing AFSPA sounds gibberish. The poverty of political imagination is damning. Frequent blockades on National Highways is another point that finds a mention in the manifesto of the NCP. This is indeed what is expected, but the question we would like to raise is what steps the party intend to do when groups of people so non-chalantly violate a standing order of the apex Court.

Why has no one, not a single person, ever been pulled up under the law for choking off the lifelines of the people ? What is NCP's take on this ? The escalating price of Onion brought down a Government at Delhi. Will the price of petrol at Rs 180 a litre not so long back have a similar impact here ? Observe the talks doing the round at all the camps put up for the election and the answer should be clear to all.

 That eye sore-the posters and banners and graffitis on public space, thanks to the sharp vigil mounted by the Election Office, is commendable.