Taking people for a ride
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: March 24, 2015 -
Pressure groups of all hues including those which are irrelevant, insignificant, nondescript and communally wired, resort to wildcat strikes, crippling blockades and other forms of disruptions to gain narrow and localised demands.
The people are hit below the belt while the government remains as disinterested spectator despite the fact the SC had ruled that blockades are illegal.
At the first news of an impending blockade or strike the oil pumps in Manipur are locked out without even bothering to explain to the consumers the reason.
The government says that Manipur has always fuel reserve to last over 21 days.
Bulk of the stock of the locked out pumps are siphoned off to the ubiquitous roadside vendors who operate freely.
The CA, F&PD Minister has never explained why the oil pump owners are given carte blanche to fleece the people.
The owners say that stock is not there and they are accountable to the strike organisers.
Home Minister has also failed to deploy security personnel in the vicinity of the oil pumps. Nothing is done to dispel this imagined threat perception.
Fuel consumption in Manipur is abnormally high and it is a million Rupee business to sell through the roadside vendors and dubious kiosks.
There are numerous two wheelers, taxis and used cars brought from other states where these are not permitted on the road.
In view of the government failure to ban plying of old vehicles these used cars are seen in thousands in Manipur.
Strikes, blockades and other forms of disruptions are order of the day in Manipur since the government has failed to implement the rulings of the SC.
In other words all oil pump owners and several other persons stand to gain personally from the oil pump gridlock.
It is a shame that the government has not even tried to ensure day time operations.
In other states oil pumps operate round the clock. Who will bell the cat in the public interest?
(Guest Editorial by Iboyaima Laithangbam)
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