WITH the imposition of the 72-hour blockade, the opposition has thrown public life into yet another dreadful spell of chaos, death and destruction. We are aghast and outraged at the damage the blockade has been doing to the economy, business, education, and communication infrastructures of the country.
Let's face it. These blockade-hartal programmes, as part of the opposition's demands, have not, so far left any visible impact on the government, to which they are aimed at. It's, therefore, time, the opposition realised the futility of continuing with such virulent time-worn political programme. The government should also be able to see that it is no less responsible for the havoc thus wrought on life and economy, if only for its unwillingness born of stubbornness not to listen to any of the opposition's demands on the conduct of the election. They both must be wiser by now and should look for the sole alternative left which is the path of dialogue to end the insufferable impasse. And for that to happen, either side should be ready to make concessions.
For both the sides to meet each other halfway, they may follow up on the moot points emerging at the discussions initiated at the level of general secretaries of the two parties, thanks to heralding of the process by the UN envoy, Oscar Fernandez Taranco.
To create the right atmosphere for the talks, the government should release the detained opposition leaders, while the opposition must withdraw the blockades and hartals. The bottom line is neither side should disengage from the dialogue until it is brought to fruition.