Political blame-game over public miseries
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 18, 2021 -

AS expected, the ruling BJP reacted strongly against MPCC president K Govindas slamming chief minister N Biren over the latter’s rather curt assertion that the government cannot provide free rations, vaccine and medicines to the public without levying taxes on certain goods or services.

Though BJP Manipur vice president Ch Chidananda and spokesman Elangbam Johnson opted to mainly counter Govindas' charges on the issue of hiking prices of petroleum products, it is obvious that the public would have wished that the two BJP executives came out in clear terms contention of Govindas that the chief minister owes an apology to the people for commenting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot guarantee freebies without something in return.

As stated by Govindas a day earlier, CM Biren has created an infamous record of publicly humiliating and mocking at the helplessness of the commoners by ridiculing the masses’ yearning for essential goods and medicines free of cost.

While it seems that there is nothing wrong with the ordinary citizens, who have been literally locked up in their homes in order to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, seeking provision of basic food items, the chief minister’s blunt remarks appear to be out of frustration due to leaders of the opposition parties constantly making disparaging comments against the government.

For instance, the Left parties resorting to nationwide protests in denunciation of the hike in prices of petroleum products and other essentials apart from Govindas reminding the political roots of the chief minister must have snapped the level of tolerance of N Biren.

Moreover, had the head of the state not used harsh tone and stoic body language then it is quite possible that the public would have digested the government’s position.

Whether or not the opposition parties, the Congress in particular, have been trying to gain political mileage out of the pandemic situation only time will tell, but there should be no misperception about the distressful condition of the general population amid the raging coronavirus pandemic in the state.

For a resource-starved state like Manipur, outbreak of Covid-19 has unarguably been creating serious problems to the impoverished section of the society.

With the non-salaried class of people facing the worst ever situation it is but natural that they would pin hope on the incumbent government to bail them out of their miserable condition.

Interestingly, the war of words between the BJP and the Congress functionaries has come amid BJP central leaders advising the state units to reach out to the poor and mitigate their virus-induced sufferings as a part of celebrating the Modi government’s second year in power in the second term.

Moreover, BJP state vice-president Ch Chidananda has acknowledged that the world is facing the impact of Covid-19 and many lives have been lost in the pandemic.

Thus, the public wouldn’t be amused at the slightest hint from the government that commoners too owe something in return to receive food-grains.

For the general population, political parties levelling charges and counter-charges would be the last thing they were expecting at this critical juncture.

From the BJP’s perspective the Congress might be trying to mislead the public, but to the commoners it would be the commitment of the government to mitigate their woeful condition which would be held in the highest esteem.