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Confusing Stand
It is unfortunate but true nevertheless, that far from being the find of the reason, the Democratic People’s Party has begun to resemble a party in a perpetual state of confusion relying merely on political rhetoric rather than coming out with a firm stand on issues which are confronting the state of people. Right from its inception, the party has been portraying the image of an organization whose right hand does not know what its left hand is doing.
For a party that was formed on the embers of the anti-cease fire extension agitation and which had managed to capture the imagination of the people by bagging two seats in its debut in the electoral fray, we at least expect the party to have some principled stand rather than follow the footsteps of the others, by mouthing the convenient excuse, ‘in politics anything can happen’ slogan.
If the DPP somewhat took the keen political observer by surprise when it first supped with the BJP in the opposition bloc, the Democratic People’s Alliance, it further shocked the whole population of the State by abandoning the Opposition bloc and joining hands with the ruling regime. Technically the switching of sides could not be termed a defection but in sprite, the DPP became the first party of the 8th Assembly to enact the very same shenanigans that was notoriously witnessed during the term of the 7th Assembly and which led to its premature burial.
Even on the ruling bench the DPP has not been able to shake off its inconsistent stand and more often than not it has given the impression that it is more willing to play to the gallery to earn some brownie points without considering the long term effect on the credibility of the party. Political rhetoric is fine as long as it is aimed at the adversary but the minute such posturing begin to leave wide open ended questions that can lead to embarrassing situation, then it is time for some serious homework to be done on the policies and programs of the party concerned and this, we are afraid to note, is the situation the DPP has worked itself into ever since it managed to send two of its representatives to the august floor of the Assembly.
If we remember correctly the buzz word of the DPP, when it joined the ruling Front, was the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Power Act. True to the image which its leaders have created over the days since the party came into being, the DPP had stated that it would consider its ties with the SPF if the Act is not revoked, at least from some parts of the State. However as matter has unfolded, it is easier said than done, and even as the Armed Forces Special Power Act has been extended by another year, the DPP is still very much a part and parcel of the SPF Government.
And even today, the DPP seems a confused party on matters as serious as the proposal of the Government to lift prohibition from some parts of the State. When the Manipur Liquor Prohibition (Amendment) Bill, 2002 was passed in the House on July 30 amidst the walk out staged by the Opposition, there was not even a whimper of protests from the DPP. We accept that the two MLAs of the DPP may have been forced by political exigencies not to voice their stand on the floor of the House but if the DPP was sincerely opposed to the idea of lifting prohibition, we wonder why it looked to the idea of lifting prohibition, we wonder why it took the party’s leadership so long to voice their stand or rather opposition to the decision.
Remember, it was only August 18, that the president of the DPP, Khaidem Mani announced to the press that the DPP as a political organization is opposed to lifting prohibition from the State. Mind you, this announcement came when protests against the Government decision started spilling out on the streets of Manipur. We are not on a DPP bashing spree but yes, we would like to see that the youngest regional party in the State does not go the way of the earlier regional parties that have sprouted in the State during the last few years. To avoid this, the leadership of the DPP has to ensure that its ideologies are not diluted beyond recognition by political compromises and opportunism.
(Courtesy: The
Sangai Express)
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