Month: July 2012

Prices of all essential commodities have shot up. Price rise moves together with the call of bandh and blockade. A few days’ bandh imposed against the movement of Manipur bound vehicles by a section of Nagaland people following hijacking of a mini bus by some Manipuris on the pretext of hiring it for a purpose threw life out of gear. Consequently prices of all essential commodities shot of up. Prior to that a plate of eggs was available for Rs 120 now it has not come down from Rs 140 though the bandh had ended. Then UNC’s 96 hour economic blockade is knocking at the door. Nothing can be done to avert the impending threat on the life of lakhs of people of the state by such call. Such bandh and blockade have hindered the growth of the state. Bandh and blockade are extreme form of weapons that can be used at one’s own sweet will. That’s the democratic right given to the masses by the constitution. But rampant misuse of this right for making unreasonable demand will end up curtailing our own rights. Who knows legislation might be passed to check the activities of the organisation which show the propensity to resorting to such extreme form of agitation for one reason or the other. Though such legislation will be tantamount to curtailing the rights of the people it will become handy in fighting against the menace of bandh and blockade. Not all demands can be fulfilled. UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh could be bifurcated to make more states and no one raised finger against it. India Government willingly created Uttaranchal, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. Nothing wrong as long as the decision fulfilled the expectations of the people in those states. India Government will however resist the demand for creation of Telangana state. There is reason behind. Not all people stand together in demanding bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Time and energy should not be wasted in making unreasonable demand. That message had been given time and again. We have a lot to learn from our history. Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi knew how national independence could be achieved. His agitation did not cause suffering to the people of the country. His fight was against British yoke. Not against the people. His main concern was to carry the entire people in his fight against the Britishers. He could carry them. If any group of people plan to do anything of their choice the mood of the people should be weighed first. Because a handful of people, who do not attempt to feel the pulse of the masses will bring no change to the society. Rather it will end up causing more pestering problems. Recent price hike was created by a handful of people, who took the law into their hands when they imposed bandh on the movement of Manipur bound vehicles. Vehicle hijackers could be punished. But the entire people cannot be expected to suffer for the crime committed by thieves. Now the focus should be on controlling price rise. That can be done by paying a simple visit to the whole sellers shop. Will not you do that?

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/menacing-price-rise-requires-solution/