Ugly scene at Sangai Fest venue : Okram Joy in the limelight
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: December 01, 2012 -

Chairs strewn around following the scuffle at Sangai Festival on November 26 2012 :: Pix - TSE

Opposition Joy. A consistent star performer on the floor of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Okram Joy is this and more.

Now out of the Assembly, having bitten the dust in the election to the 10th Assembly, O Joy however has demonstrated that he knows how to be in the limelight.

A di riguer for any politician who knows the importance of having a presence in the public domain.

From MPP MLA for years to now advisor to the said party, Okram Joy apparently realises that being out of the Assembly does not necessarily mean being banished to the recess of public memory.

From the manner in which he came down heavily against Union Home Minister Shushil Kumar Shinde for his reported remarks against the resolution adopted by the State Legislative Assembly on the Inner Line Permit System to now highlighting the ugly scene that unfolded at the venue of the Sangai Festival, Joy continues to occupy important space in the media.

This naturally translates to making his presence felt amongst the public. Perhaps an important lesson which other political heavy weights, who are presently in the wilderness, can draw.

It is interesting to see the man from Langthabal Assembly Constituency going hammer and tongs against Agriculture Minister Abdul Nasir, for the alleged assault of a Youth Congress worker in full public view at the Sangai Festival venue some days back.

To move from the personality Okram Joy to the incident, certain questions arise. What steps have the police taken up in connection with the case, now that the alleged victim, Alam Azad, has claimed that a case has been lodged with the police in connection with the alleged assault.

This is indeed a question which the veteran political leader had raised after meeting the Governor on the same matter on November 29.

Arrogance. This about sums up the political leaders of the day, especially the young ones. That something ugly unfolded at the Sangai Festival venue is a fact.

However it would be wrong to jump the gun and say that whatever the alleged victim has said so far are the undiluted truth.

This is where the police need to act. What is stopping it from going ahead and investigating the case ?

Now that the matter has come to the public domain, the Congress leadership too need to ensure that it is taken to its logical conclusion.

It is now more than a stand off between two men, one who happens to be a Minister and one who happens to be a Congress worker, but about the institution of democracy.

About the image of the Government and the people helming it. President of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, Gaikhangam, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister of the State, should realise the import of the stand taken up by O Joy.

It is no longer an internal affair of a political party.

In fact, if not treated rightly, it has all the potential to besmirch the collective known as the Council of Ministers, in which the Chief Minister is the first among equals.

Now that O Ibobi is back home, perhaps the matter should be brought before his notice.

Not for any witch hunting exercise, but to convey the message that no one, however powerful one may be, has the right to throw one's weight around.

If the charges are without basis, then it is also the right time to come down heavily on wild and baseless accusations which amount to character assassination. O Joy has set the ball rolling.

The question is whether the Government is ready to take the challenge head on or will prefer to bury it.