Friday, March 29, 2024
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Held hostage by NGOs

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Editor,

Meghalaya is once again being held hostage by these so-called NGOs – KSU, FKJGP, HNYF and others – who call bandh after bandh, road blockade after road blockade without sparing a thought about the hardship caused to the citizens or the tremendous loss to the economy. Daily wage labourers, petty businessman and upcoming entrepreneurs are bearing the brunt of this “bandh culture”. These NGOs claim to represent the wishes of the people but in reality, they are getting richer by holding a gun to the head of the common man. For years now, these NGOs have been using the “system” for personal and political gains which have nothing to do with the student community at large. At times they have acted as a ‘front’ for one political party or the other in return for favours. This is an established fact. One has only to look around to see how many past NGO leaders are now in politics to get a glimpse of how things work!

Unfortunately, the convoluted political system in Meghalaya, where ruling party and opposition are bed-fellows (except at election time), ensures that these NGOs continue to get away with their blackmailing tactics. The Government has not taken any concrete steps till now to tackle this menace, apart from daily fire-fighting. But the time has come to take a stance against these anti-national elements. Just like the Garo people came out on the streets to fight the bandh culture of the GNLA, so too must others come out openly to fight for their rights and condemn all NGOs who call for bandhs and blockades. The Govt also needs to explain why they are soft on these NGOs whose modus operandi has been no different from that of insurgent groups like GNLA.

These NGOs have created a fear psychosis in the state by destroying government property at will, burning vehicles, assaulting common people, planning and mobilizing acts of mob violence and bringing the economy to a standstill through bandhs – all in an attempt to take away the constitutional right to vote of genuine Indian citizens in the guise of “protecting” the indigenous community. This of course, is not the real reason; the real reason is political grandstanding and personal gain during an election year. So shouldn’t the Govt be tackling this NGO menace, which is another form of terrorism, with the same zeal that it tackles insurgent groups? Shouldn’t it make a sincere attempt to find out about their sources of funding? These NGOs have huge funds at their disposal – what is the source of these funds? Are they being funded by state parties or foreign sources? These questions need immediate answers.

If people in Meghalaya have not protested openly in large numbers so far, it is only because of the fear psychosis created by these NGOs. If Chief Minister Mukul Sangma feels he cannot tackle the NGOs with State resources, then let him approach Home Minister P Chidambaram for assistance. But the bottom line is – something has to be done to check NGO terrorism immediately. People in Meghalaya need to feel safe and be allowed to earn their livelihood without being held to ransom. How the Congress government in Meghalaya fares in the upcoming elections will depend a lot upon how effectively it tackles the NGO menace. Will it succumb to blackmail like in the past, or will it take a stand that will benefit the common man and say “No More Bandhs” to these NGOs?

The full might of the law should be brought to bear against those NGOs who persist with such tactics. The Central Govt needs to intervene if the State cannot guarantee the welfare and security of its citizens. It’s time to take a hard stand. Appeasement is not the solution to blackmail. If these self-appointed watchdogs of society want to take up cudgels with the Government let them adopt lawful means of protest which do not impact the common man in his daily life. Let them stop coercing ordinary citizens to toe their line using threats of violence. As things stand, these NGOs are no better than the insurgent groups that infest this region and in many ways, a lot worse!

Yours etc.,

R Shullai,

Shillong -1

 Of bandhs and intimidation

 Editor,

I want to ask the NGOs why they have to hurt their own brothers and sisters by calling bandhs. Every bandh hurts my pocket because I do not earn government salary. I have to earn my living day by day. What kind of example are they setting for the future generation? Do they want our children to grow up poor and become useless? Is it not enough that we have suffered and tolerated so much already in the past? I cannot support bandhs when my own livelihood and my children’s future is at stake. I hope good sense prevails and we stop wasting time calling these bandhs which achieve nothing but cause great harm

Yours etc.,

Kenneth Lyngdoh,

Via email

 

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