Hypocrisy of politicians
Editor
Two items of news in The Shillong Times (June 5th 2011) have left me utterly confused. First I read that Charles Pyngrope seeks documentary evidence as to the Heritage status of Tara Ghar suggesting that this might, just might, save the house from demolition. No mention is made about the trees and therefore the equally strong reason as to why the opposition to the destruction of this green area has gathered momentum. Then further down the page I read the heading: ‘Govt concerned about environ issues: Pyngrope’. Now are there two people with the name Charles Pyngrope? If not how can the same individual play around with legalities on such a sensitive issue on one occasion and then talk about protecting the environment on another? Was he, on Saturday, merely playing to the gallery because he was giving a speech on World Environment Day on the subject “Forest, Nature at your Service”, or what? Anyone else see discrepancies here?
Meghalaya had better wake up to the fact that the politicians who control our environment and our welfare have no sense of integrity. Khasis believe in the power and the weighty significance of the spoken word (Ka Ktien kein ka ba tam) – your word is sufficient and binding. Yet our politicians have debased this truth and broken the trust we have placed in them. At the moment they are behaving like a group of petulant little boys fighting over toys, throwing tantrums, muttering insults, flying off in a grumpy huff to Delhi at taxpayers’ expense, refusing to carry out their normal duties and determined only to retrieve that plaything snatched from them. Is this the example they wish to show the young who will one day take over and govern? And is the serious work of government only a trophy to be paraded around? It seems at the moment that only the Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh is carrying out her duties – the rest are just worried about themselves and not the state.
Do us a favour – give us a break will you?
Yours etc.,
Janet Moore Hujon
Via email
Grubby Distinctions
Grubby Distinctions
Editor,
One really doesn’t know whether its by deliberate design or by bumbling and clumsy incompetence, but our beloved politicians never seem to tire in their efforts to bring disrepute, shame and embarrassment to the state and its people. In or out of power they are persistent in this ignoble effort. First it was the idiotic and ludicrous attempt to install four Chief Ministers simultaneously. We became the laughing stock of the entire country for no fault of our own just because some idiot wanted to built up support for his CM ship. ST in its 5th June issue carried the news item of an indignant DD Lapang lambasting the Government for failing to maintain law and order in Garo Hills. One thought that is a sort of politicking that is the prerogative of the opposition.
Lapang still claims to be a loyal Congressman, so apparently Meghalaya once again has the dubious distinction of having two leaders of the opposition. Both Conrad Sangma and DD Lapang are out to bring down Dr Mukul, perhaps with different motives, but acting in unison as opposition to the Government all the same. Perhaps Lapang will even join Conrad in demanding for President’s Rule. Please God, let his Excellency say Yes! It just cannot be ruled out in Meghalaya politics. We love to make conventional democratic practice stand on its head. In the meanwhile all pretences at providing governance have been abandoned and with it the last shred of shame and self respect. Meghalaya’s politicians are there for the money and the power. Period. Do not expect anything else. In 2013 they will again come begging for our votes, confident that all of us would have forgiven them. Politicians know they can do what they like because all of us can be simply bought over. We are an electorate that can be bought once every five years simply to be resold again and again because a 500 rupee note has more value than the future of our children. We have the dubious distinction of being purchasable commodities! So why complain?
Yours etc.,
Zac RS,
Via email