The 4 way lane bridge headache-II : The code of conduct alibi
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: May 05 , 2014 -

Scoring an own goal in a football match is rare.

Rarer still is scoring an own goal in a damage control exercise and this is precisely what Chief Minister Mr Okram Ibobi did when he hinted at the election code of conduct for the utter failure of the Government to look into the water crisis as well as the severe inconveniences faced by the people while criss crossing between Imphal East and Imphal West.

Has the State Government sought the opinion or suggestion from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer on these matters ?

The Chief Minister did not say anything about this when he touched upon these subjects while interacting with some media persons on the sidelines of inspecting the development projects taken up on May 1.

Common sense is the most uncommon sense is a phrase that comes to mind, when we talk about this Government which is well into its third term in office.

In many ways, what the Chief Minister had to say rings hollow and will definitely not find any takers with anyone who has a modicum of intelligence.

If taking up proactive action to redress the acute water shortage as well as taking up measures to ease the inconveniences of the public go against the election code of conduct, then what about the very act of going ahead and upgrading Sanjenthong to a four way lane ?

Just makes no sense.

The Government cannot keep on taking the people for a ride.

These points, especially the upgradation of Sanjenthong to a four way lane should have been studied before the State Government went ahead and closed it down to vehicular movement.

Or if at all the work had to proceed then it should have first prepared the other connecting points, especially Thumbuthong.

Or if these works infringe upon the election code of conduct then the Government could have waited until May 14.

Damn the public, is the message that is writ large on the statement of the Chief Minister and this is not governance but throwing their weight around.

We really do not know the finer nuances of the election code of conduct, but common sense tells us that addressing an issue as sensitive as the acute water shortage cannot possibly violate the poll code.

If water can be distributed at the initiative of local MLAs and Ministers in their areas, then what is stopping the Government from taking a more proactive role earlier ?

Remember it is was only a few days back that the daily newspapers based in Imphal had reported about Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai taking up the initiative of distributing water in her Assembly Constituency.

It is this penchant of trying to pull wool over the eyes of the public that is hard to digest.

Moreover the two phased election is over here in Manipur and the office of the CEO had relaxed the model code of conduct in certain fields or aspects.

In the face of this reality, the stand of the Chief Minister in obliquely referring to the model code of conduct rings hollow.

If upgrading Sanjenthong has not violated the code of conduct, then it should be obvious that making necessary arrangements to improve the other connecting points between Imphal East and Imphal West would not violate the model code of conduct in the least.

Common sense also tells us that before the road was closed for the upgradation of Sanjenthong to a four way lane bridge, the spadework should have been done to make the other connecting points motorable.

A look at Thumbuthong at the moment more than suggests that this fundamental point has been overlooked and the Chief Minister is desperately trying to save face by falling back on the alibi of the model code of conduct which will not have any takers, by any yardstick.