Violence in AC with two former education ministers
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: December 24, 2021 -

IT could be safely stated that barrels of black money flow during elections, unscrupulous politicians covertly fan parochial narratives to pressurise the public, use their ill-gotten wealth to purchase them, and create impressions in their mind through initiation of developmental works after remaining dormant for major part of their tenure.

These observations might not be acceptable or digestible to those preparing to seek the public's mandate, but Tuesday night's violence in Heirok assembly constituency that left one student dead and at-least four injured testifies that electoral politics in the state has reached a level of competitiveness where ground rules of engagement are routinely disregarded and the semi-literate voters are merely used as pawns by the politicians to grab power.

The past few hours, after the firing incident and destruction of private properties, have not seen any violent repercussions in Heirok AC which has been witnessing election related violence since the past three/four months.

However, there is strong possibility of violence re-erupting as it is obvious that candidates and their warring supporters would be looking for an opportune moment to avenge the death of the lad.

The road block enforced by the grieving party in protest against the killing, of the college student shows that tension prevails in Heirok and the situation could go out of hand in case of the slightest lapse on the part of the law enforcement agencies.

Moreover, open display and frequent use of firearms by the perpetrators during stand-off between supporters of the intending candidates compels one to question effectiveness of the order issued for depositing licenced firearms.

While stray incidents of supporters in inebriated condition indulging in verbal confrontations or brawl over petty issues had been part and parcel of electoral politics in the state, the Heirok case could be construed as the candidate aspirants belittling safety concerns of the public and continuously hatching diabolic plans to pitch the potential voters against one another in their pursuit to wrest power.

On their part, police authorities owe an explanation to the public as to why there has been no arrest of even a single person from among the hooded hoodlums who have been creating fear psychosis and selectively attacking rival supporters ever since electioneering began in Heirok assembly constituency.

Even more disgusting aspect of the election-related skirmishes in the constituency is that both the main contenders had been education ministers and are academically qualified.

Having held the education portfolio and entrusted to oversee implementation of education policies, the ultimate objective of which is to bring positive changes to the society, it is deplorable that the series of incidents have made people of Heirok to be collectively seen as illiterate, immature, hostile, gullible, etc.

Therefore, to get rid of such abominable characterisation, people of Heirok should unite and be bold enough to identify the trouble mongers so that the culprits are dealt with according to law of the land.

They also need to exhibit consciousness that one could exercise his/her franchise rights in the most cordial manner rather than making Heirok the epicentre for spreading the cycle of violence that has perpetually been the common election phenomena in states with abysmally low literacy rate.