Molestation of Rule of Law

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'Rule of Law' plays an important role in the maintaining a civilise order in a society. It is through the rationally established rules that provide legitimacy to the actions and activities of the members of the society. If the rules are manipulated, disrespected or consider as something of a personal fiefdom, there is every reason to belief that that society will be a place where everyone is at its will.

And the news coming out from Manipur in the last few days is hinting towards such a situation. In a deviation from the democratic civilised norms the escort personnel of an elected member of the legislative assembly 'open fire and baton charge a group of people' ().

Similar, incident took place in another assembly constituency involving the present member of the legislative assembly and his escort personnel where eight students were amongst the victims of the wild police actions.

In addition, a sitting member of the legislative assembly and a cabinet minister raised doubts on the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department of Home on reigning against the activities of the 'house guard' of a prospective candidate against the civilians.

The above mentioned incidents happened to be events that are related to the pre-election circus taking place in Manipur. But, the fundamental question that arises out of these events is the behaviour of the law enforcing agencies and those that takes oath to protect the constitution.

This is pertinent to discuss because in the riot that took place in England after the killing of a British citizen the 'British parliament' (http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2011/08/11/parliament-riots-debate-as-it-happens) discussed whether to use water cannon or not against the protesting citizens. In the parliament the British Home Secretary said 'using water cannon did not fit within British traditions of policing' .

Further she added 'I don't think anybody wants to see water cannon used on the streets of Britain because we have... a different attitude to the culture of policing here in the UK. We police by consent and it depends on that trust between the police and the public' .

This reflects the political maturity of the members taking part in the debate and their concern to protect the right to dissent in a democracy. Right to dissent is one of the fundamental elements that promotes and strengthen democratic values in a democratic system.In contrast, the Manipur police personnel fire tear gas shell against a group of citizens that have different views towards their elected representative.

In the process of controlling the few people the shells of the tear gas feel on the nearby school and when the school authority requested to the stop the action they were 'abused' by the police personnel. Rather than accepting the excess committed by the police personnel the incumbent MLAs defended the actions.

Further, the events also reveal the level of citizens understanding of democracy and its values. In a representative democracy, electoral battles are fought on the basis of values and ideas the party and the individuals stand for. The initiatives taken or intended to take up are debated and discussed.

But, what is happening in Manipur is nothing short of re-enacting the medieval period relationship between the feudal lord and its servants. Rather than engaging in a civilised well informed mode of discussion and debatewhat the citizenries are doing is curtailing the growth of democratic spirits in the society. This is exemplified by the comments that the elected representative is not socially boycotted in their village and charged that this is the handiwork of an aspiring candidate.

At the same time they declared that the present representative will be supported in the coming election. Declaring of allegiance to a person not for the ideas he/she stands for or the party to which he/she subscribed to is what generally people in the do in the medieval period of the past.

During that period of time people openly declare their allegiance in the expectation that he/she shall be protected by the master in time of crisis and win some favour in the form of money or material for the allegiance. In other words, the action of citizens of Manipur amount to saying that we do not practice or value the democratic values though we participate in the process called representative election.

As there have been deviations from following the rule of law from all the actors, the actions of some of the citizens to block the supply line, an act of war, declared illegal by the Supreme Court of India, the more than 60 day old blockade is still continuing.

No civil society organisation is forcing the government to act nor the opposition is pressuring the government or the citizens are not asking the question why the government is not acting on an act that is not permitted by the law of the law. Some where it seems in Manipur 'Rule of Law' carries a different meaning and connotations.

One cannot but wonder whether Manipur society resides in a society that does not values and respect universally accepted values and norms. The silence of the citizens, incompetent actions of the government and the opposition on issues that have profound impact in the conduct as a citizen and global political system speaks volumes of an internally rotting society.