Editor,
Shame on you, Shillong for condoning acts of violence against your non-tribal brothers and sisters. Shame on you, for not having the courage to stand up against injustices. Shame on you, for allowing your society to be ruled by gangsters and criminals in the guise of social workers and student unions. Shame on your politicians for protecting the very same criminals who rape your children and murder non-tribals. Shame on your Church elders for turning a blind eye to such evil acts. Shame on your policemen, who shy away from their bounden duties and silently abet criminal elements. Shame on your intellectuals, who are ever ready to fight and voice their opinions on trivial issues but will keep silent about harassment of its own citizens. Shame on your schools for not teaching your children the difference between right and wrong. Shame on your goodwill ambassadors – your music bands and your football clubs, who never use their mass appeal to condemn evil acts. Above all, shame on you for calling yourself the ‘Scotland of the East’ when you should be calling yourself the ‘Neo-Nazi Capital of the East’. Shillong, you have no place in a modern society because yours is a fool’s paradise. You have hurt the sentiments of the entire nation with your racist philosophy.
Yours etc.,
P. Ravindran
Bangalore-9
Spectacular exhibition
Editor,
At 6 pm, April 4, at Laitumkhrah point, while people were busy shopping and slowly heading home, sound of drums unexpectedly caught the attention of the populace in that vicinity. We turn around to see the procession that was approaching. Young people dressed in the colourful Khasi traditional attire were merry making. But to the shock and disappointment of many, few boys adorned in the traditional dress entered the nearby shops, ransacked the shops and also got involved in a scuffle with shopkeepers who were trying to guard their shops.
As a resident of this magnificent city, I wonder if this is the respect we give to our culture. The young generation in their over-excitement forgot that they were displaying sheer rowdiness, along with disrespecting the traditional attire. The boisterous behaviour that was on display compels a lover of the Khasi community to feel ashamed. It may be noted that there was no police personnel accompanying the procession and this may have given a free hand to the processionists to go on a rampage. I am not aware of the purpose for which this procession was taken out. Later I learnt that it was to commemorate Khasi Re-awakening Day. But all would agree that no matter what, fun cannot come at the cost of hurting fellow inhabitants of the society, nor is it acceptable that the revered culture of a society be put to shame by a few hooligans.
I call out to the guardians to the Khasi culture to take note of this episode, so that similar incidents are not repeated in the future. Also, I urge the administration to ensure that the common man’s livelihood and safety is protected from such hooliganism.
Yours etc.,
A worried resident of Shillong,
A slur on the Khasis
Editor
The KSU procession which turned violent (ST 5th April 2013) reflects the negative side of our student youth and going by the immediate rejoinders in the letters to the Editor in the very same issue that the violence was reported, it has definitely sent a message to the outside world that Shillong is not safe and it also casts a slur on the image of the Khasi community at large and for this the students are responsible. It is for such type of intimidation, threat and violent deeds that the public at large fear such student organisations whenever they intend to agitate. People are fed up with their half- baked approach to many things which never bring overall positive results and the ideals they profess to uphold are now suspected to be all fronts to underlying motives and agendas. If they are brave enough they should not have such processions and show their might within the safe confinement of Shillong only but they should do so in our border areas where our people are being constantly harassed. I am sure they are not blind to all these atrocities on our people . But then patriotism needs a different breed of people altogether and the KSU leaders would hardly fit into such a pattern. Unfortunately the MUA Government always has a soft corner for such organisations and therefore they can get away with anything . Undoubtedly the KSU leaders will not claim responsibility as always but then they cannot absolve themselves easily like this and expect people to believe them. On the whole they should be held accountable for what happened and a strong government should immediately place these leaders under arrest unless they can prove otherwise that their leadership is not responsible for this. This is the first acid test for our Home Minister and if she fails to nip in the bud such acts of rioting and vandalism and arrest those responsible then she is doomed to fail in future .
Yours etc.,
K Dkhar
Shillong-2
KSU terror with Govt support?
Editor,
The 35th Anniversary of the Khasi Students Union was celebrated in predictable fashion – by assault, destruction and vandalism, things that we have learned to associate with the KSU in 35 long years. The KSU is the sole remaining face of terrorism against Indian nationals in Meghalaya. They are operating with impunity due to silent support from a weak Govt which refuses to recognize this growing threat. Their members are not students but hooligans who are used as political pawns to blackmail the government and attack non-tribal people. They have strong affiliation with the banned HNLC and are known to be the over-ground face of the banned terrorist organization.
That the attacks of 4th April were pre-meditated is glaringly obvious to one and all. One cannot miss the significance of the fact that a procession by known troublemakers was allowed to march unescorted through the heart of Shillong with less policemen on the streets than usual. One can be sure that the Meghalaya Police had advanced knowledge of the events that unfolded. The only action they took on this intelligence was to make themselves scarce! There were enough precedents in KSU’s chequered history to show that trouble was in the offing. Why then did Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal give permission for this event? Why were policemen absent from the streets and no security measures taken? To make matters worse by rubbing salt in the wound, Home Minister Roshan Warjri comes up with a weak statement about being proud of her roots and her culture instead of condemning the KSU in the strongest possible terms and arresting their leaders. Unless the Govt acts to declare the Khasi Students Union as a terrorist organization, no citizen of India will feel safe in Meghalaya. And for that, we have to thank Daniel Khyriem, Paul Lyngdoh and their notorious brethren who have held us hostage for 35 years. We demand that the Govt takes strong action against the KSU to restore the confidence of all Indian citizens in Meghalaya. The issue must also be taken up with national political parties and the Central Govt. to curb the KSU menace once and for all.
Yours etc.,
James Pariat,
Via email
Khyriem is lying
Editor,
Apropos the news item “KSU Denies Involvement” (ST April 5, 2013), I want to ask the KSU president Daniel Khyriem if he is blind. Or are the public fools? He can deny all he likes but God and the public knows he is to blame. I was an eye witness to KSU violence in Laitumkhrah On April 4 when shops were stoned and people bashed up badly in front of everyone. Khyriem and his partners in crime should be punished.
Yours etc.,
R Dhar,
Via email
KSU’s selfish agenda must go
Editor,
The recent acts of violence at a KSU sponsored rally were a fitting tribute to the organisation’s 35th birthday. They symbolise decades of attempts to stifle development and progress in Meghalaya. The KSU leadership have a single-minded agenda: to fast track themselves into a lucrative career in politics. They flex their muscles by mobilising their unthinking flock into committing unspeakable acts by appealing to base sentiments and dodgy “ideology”. Their selfish agenda must go ahead at all costs, including the welfare of their own brethren and neighbours. The North East is currently at a crossroad in history. If the opening up of Burma continues, the North East will have the opportunity to transform itself. What was once a geographical dead end and economic backwater may become the gateway between South East Asia and the sub-continent. We will finally have the chance for economic empowerment, provided some organisations desist from destroying this golden opportunity.
I therefore ask the KSU membership and supporters if they want to prop up a handful of greedy, self-serving Svengalis or would they prefer to establish their rightful place in the 21st Century Asian economic boom? One more point. The slogan “Khasi by blood, Indian by accident” is both tired and fallacious irrespective of whether you agree with the sentiments. One cannot choose to be born, let alone when or where. One’s birth is no less accidental than one’s nationality.
Yours etc.,
Raphael Marbaniang
Shillong-14