Forcing petrol pumps to shut The Govt is answerable
|
Eerily reminiscent of the earlier days when blockade, under any name-highway blockade, economic blockade, you name it-crippled the National Highways and people were starved of the bare essential minimums of the day, scarcity of fuel being the most prominent and visible. Those were the days when people were forced to stay put the night at the petrol pumps, just so that they could fill their vehicles when the pump opens the next day. Not uncommon it was to see cars, two wheelers and other vehicles lining up outside any fuel pump and not unusual it was so see serpentine queues outside any petrol pump while returning home late in the night. So long were the queues that at some places, such as PCTC at Khoyathong, the queues used to stretch from the petrol pump all the way to the western side of DM University (back then it was DM College) just to get a few litres of petrol. Petrol sold in the black, at exorbitant rates, even just outside a petrol pump were all lapped up by the public, without so much of a complaint. Come to 2026 and suddenly Imphal seems to have gone back in time, if one were to take a look around. Just one day after a grenade was lobbed at a fuel pump at Moirang Thana Leikai in the evening of January 8, talks started doing the round that pump owners were set to shut down in protest and as the day wore on, many rushed to the nearest petrol pump available to refill their vehicles. This was a story that The Sangai Express carried the next day, complete with pictures, telling the story of people flocking to the few opened petrol pumps in Imphal, ahead of the anticipated shutdown. This was on January 9 and fast forward to January 11, all petrol pumps remain shut, with the talk between Manipur Petroleum Dealers Fraternity and Government officials led by the Home Commissioner held on January 10 having failed to make any progress. Bomb attack on January 8 evening, last minute rush to the petrol pumps on January 9 in anticipation of the shutdown, talks failing to come to a meeting point and all petrol outlets shutting shop from January 10 and clearly 2026 has started off on the wrong foot. Only two words should sum up the situation right now-abject failure-failure of the Government. And this failure should be seen beyond the failure to convince the petrol pump dealers to open shop, but in the total failure to instil confidence that there is a Government in place to ensure protection to the life and property of the people. Apart from taking the Government to task over its utter failure, it should also be acknowledged that there are some elements out there, people who have no compunction about endangering the lives of everyone in pursuit of something. What would have happened if the fuel pump had caught fire due to the bomb explosion ? Just imagining the situation is scary. What if the explosion had caught on and the petrol pump had gone up in flames ?
At the moment, it has not come to the public domain on why the particular petrol pump was targeted but does it really matter ? What however matters is that people have been hit hard and it is only right that questions are raised on what the Government intends to do. Or will it be a case of the suited, booted class of the people caring two hoots, for it does not affect them ? Not the first time that petrol pumps have come under direct threat and it was not so long back, sometime in December last year, that the petrol pump owners had risen in protest after a grenade was ‘gifted’ to one of them. Not much has been heard after the Government reportedly assured to extend adequate security to them. What has happened to that assurance now, for remember a grenade was lobbed at a petrol pump late in the evening of January 8. Back then, it was reported that the bomb was lobbed by two individuals who came on a two wheeler. Has the police made any progress from the investigation it could have picked up from the CCTv footage ? What is the status of the case ? The PR administration certainly has a lot more to do to show that there is a Government in place. Show it is serious about ensuring the safety of the people. This is governance and as for the people who threw the bomb, let it not be forgotten that Manipur is still reeling under a situation for nearly three years now and it absolutely makes no sense to endanger the people, whatever demands or grievances they may have.
At the moment, it has not come to the public domain on why the particular petrol pump was targeted but does it really matter ? What however matters is that people have been hit hard and it is only right that questions are raised on what the Government intends to do. Or will it be a case of the suited, booted class of the people caring two hoots, for it does not affect them ? Not the first time that petrol pumps have come under direct threat and it was not so long back, sometime in December last year, that the petrol pump owners had risen in protest after a grenade was ‘gifted’ to one of them. Not much has been heard after the Government reportedly assured to extend adequate security to them. What has happened to that assurance now, for remember a grenade was lobbed at a petrol pump late in the evening of January 8. Back then, it was reported that the bomb was lobbed by two individuals who came on a two wheeler. Has the police made any progress from the investigation it could have picked up from the CCTv footage ? What is the status of the case ? The PR administration certainly has a lot more to do to show that there is a Government in place. Show it is serious about ensuring the safety of the people. This is governance and as for the people who threw the bomb, let it not be forgotten that Manipur is still reeling under a situation for nearly three years now and it absolutely makes no sense to endanger the people, whatever demands or grievances they may have.