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On November 4, 2009 the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh condoled the death of a kidney patient who “was brought dead” in a Chandigarh medical institute. The death as reported in the media, was caused by the security bandobast for the visit of the prime minister to the PGIMER Chandigarh, who came to attend the annual convocation programme.

The patient, it was reported could not be reached to the hospital in time because the security personals kept diverting the patient’s vehicle for nearly two hours. Whether the report was true or not, the fact that the prime minister on learning the news from the media wrote personally to the wife of the deceased patient expressing his “profound sense of sadness” speak volumes of how a responsible leader in a democratic country should conduct himself in such case of the loss of life in which he is morally responsible, however remote his moral responsibility.

What was important was the prime minister not only condoled the death, he had also issued instructions to the concerned authorities to be “more sensitive to the concerns of the common man while imposing” restrictions for security reasons in future.

Quite expectedly the police issued a report or a statement denying any responsibility in the death of the patient and we are not interested in that. What we are concerned and is considered important is the prime minister taking note of the loss of a life due to inconveniences caused by his visit and the moral responsibility he owned up without anybody reminding him who is as busy as any leader in the world.

It could have been a different story if such incident should happen in a north American or a western European country where the dignitary however high he may be, could face legal hassles.

But for a country like India where such a possibility is just unimaginable, the prime minister taking the initiative on his own in expressing his sadness show all the more the extreme importance of conduct of those in the high offices, especially the elected leaders most notably the chief ministers while discharging their duties. The prime minister has noted the responsibility of the leaders and the concern of the common men on the road, in public places or in any situation where inconvenience may be caused to the public.

Now take this simple idea to the present Manipur imbroglio which was started by the killings of a pregnant woman and an ex-militant in the crowded B.T. Road Bazar on July 23, 2009. Let the murder of the ex-militant be set aside in this context, but for the pregnant woman, did she not deserve some respect from the Chief Minister of the State who is morally responsible being the Supreme commander of all the forces in Manipur?

The death of the woman was the direct fallout of the alleged policy of the SPF government to eliminate the insurgents rather than bringing them to book, which more often than not turns out to be a farce, like in the present case. The woman was the victim of an avoidable police adventurism which deserved to be condemned. And the chief minister therefore is responsible for the death, if not for anything else but for his serious attempt to disown any responsibility, moral or otherwise for the death.

To tell the truth, taking cue from the Honourable Prime Minister, the Chief Minister should express his sympathy or sadness for the loss of the life of the pregnant woman honestly, even though it is late, but it is said – better be late than never. This simple gesture would cool the temperature down considerably, and also an honest and sincere approach to the case of the slain ex-militant may also be a breaking point in the present crisis.

A prime minister is a prime minister so also a chief minister is a chief minister – he is the symbol and the fountainhead of the democratic rights and power of the people of the state. The Chief Minister of Manipur should understand this simple idea of symbol and he must show some respect to a departed soul for which the state government is 100 percent responsible.

If the Chief Minister fails in this unwritten democratic obligation, how can the government and for that matter anyone could expect an outlaw or a dacoit or a member of the underground groups to respect the minimum right of an individual to live, leave aside the luxury of human rights, and in such a situation is there any difference between the Honourable Chief Minister and a hangman?

This is the problem of Manipur which needs to be resolved on top priority to pave the way to normalcy, more than anything else, including measures like the army build-up and modernization and strengthening of the police forces etc. Simple thing is, the Union Home Minister as recently as a month back called Manipur “a big problem” after 7 years of SPF rule with unprecedented central fund given liberally.

Does the Chief Minister of Manipur read newspapers and watch TV? This question becomes relevant and needs to be raised because the Chief Minister behaves as if he does neither and it is not a good omen for the future of Manipur. But I have the information that the Prime Minister of the country and the most powerful and probably the busiest man on the earth – the President of the United States of America and all leaders of the world except a few rogue find time either to read newspapers or watch the TV to keep themselves abreast of what is happening around the world.

I remember a former chief minister of Manipur telling with dignity "Eidi Khabarsu Paade, Paosu Taade" – that he did not read the papers nor listen to the news. This is a mark of a Chief Minister who is not valid for a society which would claim a history of even a hundred years, leave aside two thousand years. If the chief minister happens to be an illiterate and which is also a possibility then someone has to read him the papers and he can also listen to the vernacular medium news in the electronic media, to keep himself abreast of the surroundings.

Democracy is all about taking into considerations the likes and dislikes of the public, understanding the differences of interests among the people recognizing the problems and issues from time to time and knowing their minds and, etc. which are all reported and reflected in the medium of the print and electronic media. The job of the government is to find possible solutions and alternatives to problems, issues and etc., besides the normal role of governance, under the law of the land. But certainly, the quality of the government is directly proportionate to the quality of the leader.