Tackling public agitation

One, the means and methods the agencies and the administration use to tackle public agitation. Secondly, the issue of the deprivation of the people from the basic civic amenities that they pay for.

Apparently, what started off as a peaceful demonstration by the inhabitants of Shanir Akhara demanding water and electricity, turned violent due to the extremely hamhanded way the police and other elements of the ruling party went about tackling the situation. The predilection of the police to precipitate action stemming unfortunately from their violent state of mind that predisposes them to aggressiveness is worrisome. It is unfortunate that they consider all demonstrations of public resentments worthy of being put down with a heavy hand.

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The action has demonstrated a very arrogant and repulsive behaviour of the police; and the most reprehensible aspect of the entire episode was the fascist attitude of the local MP who, instead of standing by the cause of those very people who had elected him to the exalted position to see to their welfare, instigated the police into violent action, further complicating the situation. It was he who should in the first place have assuaged the public and ensured that they did not turn violent. Even more disingenuous on his part was to blame the incident as the handiwork of the opposition.

As for the civic amenities, that the people were suffering for the last three months from lack of water and electricity and nothing was done about it, speaks volumes about the complete lack of interest in peoples' woes and total antipathy to their needs, on the part of the administration and local representatives. The local MP has been spurred into action, but only after destruction and damages were wreaked on private and public property and injuries to many? Why did the mayor fail to visit the spot, and why were the assurances by him that resulted in the withdrawal of the agitation given only after a major highway had remained blocked for the greater part of the day?

We urge upon all concerned, particularly the mayor to take a stock of the areas that are suffering from shortfall of water and power, and take measures to mitigate, if not completely remove the problem before it is too late.