Questioning silence of Cong : BJP bang on target
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: August 28 2018 -

The BJP is bang on target.

Why is the Congress completely silent on the arms missing case and why has it not said a word even though one of its MLAs, in the person of Yamthong Haokip, has been arrested in connection with the case.

Why was the required voice not raised when the arms missing case first came to their knowledge ?

A valid point the BJP has raised and for the Congress to be an effective Opposition it should have the moral courage to admit when one of its flocks go astray.

Or is the silence an essential requirement at this stage ?

Such a mindset would amount to taking the public for a ride, but what the State Congress leaders should realise is the point that today they are no longer in power and hence cannot continue with their indifference to disturbing developments.

And recovering such a large number of missing arms from the residence of an MLA is certainly a big thing and the least the Congress can do is come out and state their stand.

Congress could have adopted the indifferent stance if it was in power but remember today it is in the Opposition and their duty is to raise questions to the Government.

If however they prefer to look the other way round when it comes to their affair, then it will have very little takers amongst the public when it does come up with relevant questions pointed to the Government.

Maybe it is a habit borne out of the long years in power coupled with its indifference to the reality.

It is this culture or mindset which the Congress should seek to exorcise.

Those in the media will remember when the then Congress Government cared two hoots about what is written and it is this haughtiness that the people wanted defeated and which was reflected in the Assembly election results of 2017.

It is the silence which the BJP has pounced upon and questioned the Congress.

If the past is any indication, there will most likely be no response leaving one to wonder whether the act of the MLA should be seen in isolation of the political party to which he belongs or not.

True it was a personal deed, but in public life can one really divest the political persona of the individual in question, particularly if the individual happens to represent a political party on the floor of the Assembly.

The BJP has no doubt raised a valid point, but care should be taken to ensure that the arms missing case is not politicised to such an extent that it becomes a political tussle between the BJP and the Congress.

Let the investigation go to its logical conclusion and in the process let no one come under the impression that they can be above the law.

In cracking the whip and collaring the Congress MLA, the Government has shown it means business.

One only hopes this is not done so to make a political killing.

Even as the BJP has done it right in going after the silence of the Congress, it too should not turn a blind eye to the follies of its own people.

Remember what happened at Classic Grande a few days back, when a Minister in the BJP led Government demonstrated what goondaism is all about.