Editor,
I am shocked and amused at the same time by the news item that came out in your newspaper dated April 14, 2025, about the statement made by the spokesperson of the VPP highlighting the conditions under which the MLAs, particularly, those who are in the opposition are being ‘forced to operate’ with a salary of around 2 lakhs plus per month, the VPP leader even went to the extent of demanding an official car for its staff and so on so forth.
First of all, I am not a politician and I am not familiar with how political Emoluments and privileges exactly work, but one thing that caught my attention is the change of stance by the VPP particularly on the subject of public spending and austerity, it’s ironic that a party whose main agenda is fighting corruption, special privileges and wastage of public money are now asking the same privileges for their MLAs, coming back to the statement made by the VPP leader regarding VPP MLA from Mawlai, which his mode of transport is a 2 wheeler or Alto well I feel that if the MLA is travelling in a scooty, it is his choice of transport nobody is stopping him from buying a two-wheeler or an SUV. I feel that after one becomes a public representative it is expected that he/she carries oneself well with the position that has been bestowed by the people and protects the prestige of his/her constituents. Looking at the VPP President there is a total contrast, he travels in style in his newly acquired Fortuner, what does the spokesperson of the VPP have to say about his own President, my opinion on this matter as an ordinary citizen is that the VPP legislators are using Ethics and Principles only during election campaigns to fool voters, therefore I find that out of desperation, the spokesperson of the VPP is contradicting himself.
- Tariang
Via e-mail
