Manipur Bloodletting; Munir’s Pakistan; Punjab Question
Opinion Watch
Manipur Bloodletting
The Asian Age in its Editorial has said that while bodies of 35 people killed last week in Manipur were still awaiting last rites when new ones were added amid reports of mobs going around villages and streets during which three persons were killed on Saturday morning. “The government must drop its high-handed attitude and accept the fact that a state in turmoil for more than three months merits a place in the speech of its Prime Minister,” added the New Delhi-based daily.
Three months and counting as the Manipur mayhem continues! A video of Manipur Police blocking the movement of the Assam Rifles went viral last week. The Centre is now bagful of questions to answer even while current session of Parliament has just six days of businesses.
Munir’s Pakistan
The Indian Express in its Editorial has opined that the real story in Pakistan is the rise of General Asim Munir in the backdrop of the hammering of the final nail in the coffin of the political career of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The Noida-based daily cited that none of the former PMs who soured their ties with Army in Pakistan could hold on to the positions, with some dying (Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto) and others exiled (Nawaz Sharif). It argued that Munir now has a firm grip on hybrid military-political rule in Pakistan.
Pakistan should rank among those African nations where the writ of the guns runs large. The ruling elite of Pakistan – military, mullahs and politicians – have added too much of fat by feasting on corruption by sinking the Islamic country to the seabed of foreign debt.
Punjab Question
The Tribune in its Editorial quoted a report tabled by the Parliamentary Standing Committee to stress that Punjab and Haryana figure among the states with the maximum drug users and Chandigarh is placed at the third spot among the UTs, while the children account for a fairly large proportion of those consuming hazardous and habit-forming drugs. “With a population of around three crore, the state is home to over 66 lakh drug users, including 21 lakh consuming various types of opioids,” added the Chandigarh-based daily.
Normalization of drugs in Punjab has been talked about for decades now, with intensity now only reaching higher levels. Distressing is the fact that the people in Punjab have accepted the use of drugs as a fait accompli.
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