Since the filing of nominations began, Shillong city has been held to ransom by hordes of supporters of different candidates and their vehicles filling up the streets. The Chief Election Officer (CEO), the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills and the Superintendent of Police (Traffic) should have foreseen this exigency in a city already marooned by slow moving traffic. The number of supporters should have been restricted and strictly enforced. But as always the rule of law is always given short shrift as the administration turns the other way when violations happen as has been seen in these last few days since the filing of nomination started. The tragic part is that ambulances too were caught in the traffic jam; the sick and the elderly who needed medical attention too were caught in the traffic for hours together. And no attempt was made to clear traffic. The traffic jam around the DC’s office and the Raj Bhavan continued until late evening. Traffic cops were not seen anywhere around. An exasperated public has reached the end of their tether.
It is unbelievable that a matter that has caught the attention of the Meghalaya High Court – the Shillong traffic jam – has remained unresolved till date simply because the government dare not take strong and effective measures to curtail the number of vehicles on the roads, or by widening the existing roads or by constructing fly-overs or whatever. The state should be seen to be doing something but that is not visible.
But the larger question here is of the prospective candidates who flaunt their political muscle by bringing hundreds of supporters to shout slogans for them. Are they so insecure that they need to be accompanied by so many people? And who are these people who can spare their time and accompany the candidates? What are their antecedents? They cannot be gainfully employed because then they would not have the time to spare for such mindless and purposeless circus. It is evident therefore that it is to the advantage of politicians to keep their constituents at subsistence level so they continue to manipulate their emotions and play mind games with them. There are allegations that the bulk of the sloganeers are paid their daily wages to put up this show of support for candidates. Truly Meghalaya has reached the nadir of democracy. With every passing day we see governance going into hiding even while lawlessness gains ground. Those entrusted to uphold the law appear helpless and obsequiously timorous before their political masters.
At this rate anarchy is not very far off.
