Need to take criticisms in its stride :: Wanted : Responses not reactions
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: May 11 2018 -

Perhaps no one will know this better than the BJP and the Congress. And that is the need of a strong Opposition.

Congress Mukt may be the slogan of the BJP, but at least in Manipur, in the absence of any other political party which can take the fight to the BJP, a strong Congress is what the people need.

Read this as a strong Opposition, for remember other than the Congress there is no other political party which can step into the shoes of a strong Opposition.

It was the absence of a strong Opposition that let the Congress down in the 2017 Assembly election and this is a fact that should not blow over the head of the BJP.

Remember how it was after the 2012 Assembly election when the Congress romped home with 42 MLAs in the 60 member Assembly and the number of its members shot up to 47 after 5 MLAs from the then MSCP switched sides to the Congress.

In effect the Congress was literally without an Opposition and this reality blinded the party to the realities and made them deaf to the voices of dissatisfaction from the public.

This is a lesson which the BJP cannot afford to overlook.

And talking about Opposition need not necessarily be seen only through the prism of an Opposition bench in the Assembly.

The Opposition that one is talking about here may come from different sources and the BJP must learn to take the voice of dissent and criticism in its stride and see how to make up in the future.

Any criticism that comes its way should not be seen as being anti-BJP or anti-Government but about pointing out the flaws in the functioning of the Government.

This is a point which should not be lost on the BJP leaders and here it becomes important for them to surround themselves with the right people and not those who will only say what the BJP leaders want to hear.

This is about leadership, the quality to lead.

In as much as the quality to lead may entail many points, it goes without saying that having the wisdom to take criticism in its stride goes a long way in being an effective leader.

Taking criticism in its stride does not mean that the BJP leaders should turn a deaf ear to the points raised, for that is something which the Congress has already done in its 15 years in power, but to see the positives in the negative comments made against them.

And talking about an Opposition and so far the Congress seems to be delivering statements and going to the press when it is needed and this is good for governance.

Whether the BJP led Government prefers to overlook them or take heed is a different matter, but issues which are deemed important to the people and the land have been picked up and this is a good sign.

A recent example that comes to mind is the pending pact with the NSCN (IM) that is likely to be signed any time in the near future.

The stand of the Congress or the MPCC (I) on the matter is clear.

It will however be interesting to see what the stand of the BJP led Government is on this count.

The answer may come sooner than later, if the belief that the final pact will be inked soon is any indication.

Let there be a strong Opposition and let there be a responsive Government, and not a reactionary Government.

People want responses not reactions.