Nero incarnate ? |
Courtesy: The Sangai Express 18th May, 2007 |
After months of turmoil, social unrest and arson the Government eventually buckled under the pressure of MEELAL and agreed to introduce the indigenous script at educational institutions. That the Government resolved the issue on the embers of the burnt State Central Library is damning proof that the SPF Government seldom act on time until matter takes a turn for the worst. It was precisely because of this that even the Governor of Manipur had at one point of time commented that certain unsavoury incidents could have been avoided. The MEELAL incident is history now and there have been other cases too when the Government failed to understand the turn of events to come and the numerous MoUs signed with different student organisations, particularly with the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur after a series of agitation has been launched are enough indicators of the Government looking the other way when its attention should have been drawn to the said issue. The MEELAL movement and the accompanying social unrest may be history now but unfortunately, the Government does not appear to have learnt any lessons from the past. For the moment, the SPF Government has been able to pacify the Transporters' and Drivers' Council, but this too came after the State had paid the price of a one day chakka bandh. We have had our say on the impact of the chakka bandh on the students, but a look at the same issue from a different angle will provide fresh insight, is our opinion. Initially the chakka bandh was supposed to be for two days, that is 48 hours, but it was called off after the first day following a meeting with the Chief Minister. The point is, if an agreement could be arrived at so soon during a brief meeting, why wasn't any effort taken up to do the same earlier before the chakka bandh was enforced ? We believe the Council had submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister days before the agitation started, but for reasons which are best known to the Chief Minister, nothing concrete came from the side of the Government. We need not repeat the difficulties and the extremely trying times that transporters and drivers have to face while discharging their duties and as the Chief Minister of the State, O Ibobi ought to pay the required attention when there is any voice of discontentment from the transporters or from anyone else. Other than the Government, it is also our sinceren belief that voluntary organisations of all hue and colour and the general public too should understand the plight and conditions under which transporters and drivers have to work. We would like to offer one suggestion to Mr Ibobi. Keep men/women who are efficient as around him, people who can understand the gravity of any issue and not some chamchas or hanger ons. It goes without saying that the CM needs to have many sensitive ears, minds as well as eyes. |
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