The tragedy in Manipur

 It's very sad that it seems the little north-eastern state has been left to its fate. I have long heard from the people of that part of our country that Delhi gives them stepmotherly treatment. Now I see it happening. It's a huge tragedy but look at the media coverage. The journos who are croaking day and night about wars elsewhere in the world are silent about the Manipur crisis. It's understandable because in Manipur we have the powerful double-engine sarkar. How dare they speak anything against it. They simply cannot.

Let there be sporadic violence in Bengal or any other opposition state the media croaks day and night. 'Impose Article 356. Suspend the government. Impose Governor rule,' they thunder. And all is silent as the mayhem unfolds in Manipur.

There was a massive media and administrative campaign as a cyclonic storm approached the most-preferred state in India. The entire media, the entire ministry were trooped to that privileged part of India to ward off any possible damage to life and property. Media people showed angry seas and blazing winds. Nothing wrong with that. But why ignore a little north-eastern state? The rivers of tragedies go unnoticed and unreported as they happen in Manipur. The most-preferred state is privileged to have the top leadership of the central government. It has more seats. What does poor Manipur offer to the politically ambitious plans of the world's largest political party? So despite complete failure of the double-engine government there, the state government is still safe there in the seat of power. Imposing Article 356 would mean acceptance of failure of its government there. Can you imagine what would happen if something like this happens in an opposition ruled state?

The Meiteis and the Kukis are baying for each other's blood. The very same age-old polarization along ethnic or religious lines. The government has to understand that they can now afford to drop the principle of polarization from its core ideology because it has given them power two times. But pursuing it beyond a point is fatal for this country. Today Manipur is burning. God forbid, if the very same intense level of polarization between the majority and minority along religious lines keeps haunting our society, there might be a day when integrity and sovereignty of mother India might be challenged. So for God sake abandon divisive and polarization tactics. You have enough work done to fight elections on develpmental issues. Please don't divide and break this country.

Rahul Gandhi is immediately penalized for name-shaming the most powerful man in India. His parliamentary membership is suspended, his official residence is taken back. And a muscleman who has molested female wrestlers is systematically protected. This misuse of power is glaringly self-evident. College students keep incinerated in jails for 1000 days without even a formal charge sheet. Opposition leaders get intimidated by powerful state agencies. We have every reason to believe that the powerful cult of the all-powerful leader is taking the shape of Indira Ganhi era. The very same kind of arrogance and intoxication of power. But in any case the results again would be the same. Because pride hath a fall. Always!