Editor,
It is a preposterous measure that the government is taking by increasing fuel prices arbitrarily. In the last few weeks we have seen fuel prices keep rising endlessly. When the international crude oil price is tumbling down, our fuel prices in India keep rising on a daily basis. This is purely for the benefit of the government both central and state. It is true that the government needs more money during these days of the epidemic, but this singular measure is an indirect attack on the poor. We all know that when fuel prices increase, the poor citizens have to pay more for their journey fares. The lockdown measure put out by the government has already limited the number of passengers which results in doubling of fares. Above this, the rise in fuel price will aggravate the situation further. The prices of commodities will keep surging and how will a daily wager cope with this. To make things worse, many poor people today are without jobs or means of income. The rise in the prices of food articles will definitely lead to deprivation and hunger for the poor people. We will not be surprised to know that more and more poor people will die of starvation. Why does the government not increase taxes on luxury goods which the rich classes can afford to buy? This is evidently an anti-poor government which does not care for the plight of the have-nots. It appears that its policy is to appease the rich and the middle class than care for the survival of the poor. God save our country!
Yours etc.,
Barnes Mawrie sdb,
Via email
No Covid protocol in Govt establishments
Editor,
The strict Covid-19 protocols enforced by the State Government in various private and commercial organizations, and at various entry and exit points of our state are highly commendable. Even the WHO has praised the efforts of our Government in combating and controlling the spread of this pandemic. Some shops in Police Bazar really adhere to the said norms. After a thermal screening and the regular use of a hand sanitizer before entering the shop, every customer has to also fill up details in a register like names, phone number and residential address. This procedure can easily help in contact tracing.
But recently when I visited one or two government offices in Shillong, I was surprised to see the laxity in these offices. There was no thermal screening at the entrance, no register was maintained either at the time of entry or exit. Most of the staff members are also not adhering to the protocols. God forbid, if there is any person with Covid 19 symptoms entering these offices, then it would be impossible to trace them.
When the Government can impose strict action against private organizations , commercial establishments and citizens who violate these protocols, then they should also be vigilant and strict in their own departments. I don’t want to point fingers at any Government offices or officials, but I just want them to practice what they preach.
Yours etc,.
Mangkara Hynniewta
Via email
Has India been a good neighbour?
Editor,
The tragic events at the Galwan Valley involving India and China have been met with a muted response not only from the international community (barring USA) but also from India’s immediate neighbours. It would be fair to assume that China’s growing economic influence in these countries may have resulted in an unofficial silencing of criticism against it. However, we can also examine past relations between India and its neighbours to examine if India has been at a cordial relationship with all. Nepal for example suffered a humanitarian and economic crisis in 2015- 16 when Indian traders imposed an unofficial embargo on it as part of the Madhesi protest. Nepal was hit by a devastating earthquake April 25, 2015 and relief operations were still going on. Nepal suffered another blow at the hands of India when the Modi government suddenly imposed demonetization in 2016. Relief efforts, medical and health care systems, farmers, traders, daily labourers and small business owners in Nepal were the worst hit. In both cases, the Indian government never stepped forward to address these issues. It denied that there was an embargo and till date the Indian government has done nothing to address the issue of crores of Indian rupees lying useless in the coffers of the Nepal government.
The Bangladesh government faced the ire of its citizens when fears were aroused regarding the implementation of the NRC and CAA in India. The NRC and CAA were seen as controversial in Bangladesh as it is a Muslim dominated country. The NRC and CAA also exposed another crack in the relationship between India and Bangladesh. From 2017, Bangladesh was providing relief to Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. Bangladeshi citizens feared that India, through the NRC and CAA, was conducting an unofficial exodus of its own citizens into Bangladesh; further burdening Bangladesh while it was struggling to manage an international refugee crisis. India’s relationship with Sri Lanka is more complex given the relations of the LTTE and India, the resentment towards India’s interference in Sri Lanka through the IPKF and the ongoing tussle over the control of fishing waters that sees a constant conflict between the navy on both sides and the fishermen. There is also the allegation of the involvement of RAW, India’s intelligence wing, in Sri Lanka’s 2015 elections. Furthermore, one of the perpetrators of the 2019 Easter Bombing in Sri Lanka received support and training in Kashmir and Kerala. While the NIA did warn the Sri Lankan government about the attacks, yet questions have been raised about the absence of any arrests by the Indian authorities before the attacks took place.
India has always had a strong influence over Bhutan concerning that country’s policies both national and international. Bhutan has been heavily dependent on India for trade and commerce. However, over the years Bhutan has evolved both politically and economically and has started to establish its own place in the international community, un-influenced by India. Discussions between India and Bhutan have been limited to economic and environmental issues but it must be noted that the first military operation carried out by the Royal Bhutan Army in 2003 was against militants from North East India such as ULFA and NDFB who had infiltrated Bhutan and made its forests their camps.
India shares a complex and difficult relationship with its immediate neighbours. At times, it seems that the other countries are the ones at a disadvantage. This may make a relationship with China even more appealing, especially if they do not share or have a minimal border with China and are thus able to avoid the various political, social and economic complexities that come with border sharing. India would be wise to remember that every decision it takes, whether economic, political or military, will be closely watched by its neighbours.
Yours etc.,
Joshua Rynjah
Shillong -14,