Editor,
The news item in The Shillong Times (ST, 11 Jan, Garo Hills Edition) where the Union Minister of State, Government of India, Mr Vincent Pala is said to have told Times Now news channel at Shillong that the tribes can resolve their problems according to their local genius is ridiculous. How could a person in that position take such a serious and tragic episode so casually. The event has cost the lives of at least a dozen people and more than fifty thousand villagers were displaced, about 1500 houses burnt down to ashes. What can be more tragic than this. Yet the Minister is still considering it not a major problem.
Secondly, the two communities involved in this unfortunate violence could not solve their problems by themselves. That is why it resulted in this explosive situation, yet the Hon’ble minister is asking both the communities to settle their problems by themselves. What wishful thinking. Instead of offering his services for which he was elected, he is brushing aside the problems. Meghalaya has now to pay the price of electing people through the means of muscle and money power.
Yours etc.,
Hamitson Marak
Tura-794001