Why is the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) on an indefinite sit-in-protest at Khwairamband Keithel? It is a question on the lips of everyone today. In the wake of barbaric killing innocent six women and children abducted by Kuki militants in Jiribam, the general population had risen in protest once again. It was not only a response to the cold-blooded killing of even innocent children including toddlers and women not at all involved in the armed strife, but also against the lukewarm response of both the state and central government which incited the public to go on rampage against both the governments and the elected representatives.
The ethnic clashes and violence although sporadic had been dragging on for more than 18 months with no tangible solution in sight or a sincere effort on the part of the governments, it is but natural for the public rage to turn towards their own representatives. Had these representatives including the Chief Minister had made the interests of the state their main agenda while putting aside political differences or loyalties or personal interests, people would not have targeted them.
Even in the face of utter humiliation by central leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah by taking away powers and command of the security architecture in the state, the Chief Minister and his ministers continue to hang on to power while the ruling MLAs are in such a state where they are afraid of antagonising the party leadership but uncaring of the public anger or voice. Well, that is about the public rage against the elected representatives.
The general public is also closely watching the attitude and stances of the unelected representatives who claims to represent the voice of the people and interests of the state in every sphere. By unelected representatives, we mean the civil society organisations or CSOs in short. In the past, they were known as pressure groups. But now following the changing parlance, they began to be called CSOs whose essential mandate should be of voicing the public opinion.
As Manipur is in eternal state of conflict, the role of CSOs is very important in carrying forward the public opinion. And one must be very clear that such opinion should be assessed from the general mood prevailing among the public and not opinions cooked in the kitchens of the CSOs as directed by their overlords. It is required of CSOs to analyse and channelise the latent energy and the voices towards a path of public good and overall interests of the state and its people.
Now with regard to the general call for resignation of MLAs or of the Chief Minister and his ministers, there seems to be a wide gap between the public consensus and the public stances announced by the CSOs through press conferences and press releases. The other day, COCOMI supposed to be a CSO conglomerate in the valley asked for a collective decision of the MLAs to resign in the present state of affairs. This is a bit confusing. In politics, every man is for himself and no one wants to be left holding the empty bag as we said earlier. How could there a collective decision when every one of them is waiting for someone to blink first.
When supporters of the respective MLAs say they should wait for a collective decision, it is understandable because of varied interests. But it is rather confusing when a CSO conglomerate takes such a stance. Who knows they themselves are confused on the next step to take forward the public energy? Why should they indulge themselves in a sit-in-protest in the heart of the city and in a public place if they are not confused. It is expected of them to clarify on the confusing state of affairs and their stances.
