Editor,
Much has been written about the despicable behaviour of our VIPs (MLAs, Ministers, Bureaucrats, etc) in traffic. When lawmakers and lawmen become outright lawbreakers, they deserve to be condemned in the strongest possible terms. These siren-blaring, red light-flashing vehicles are a menace to the safety of motorists and pedestrians alike. When these VIPs are accompanied by police escorts or bodyguards their behaviour verges on the criminal because the ‘escorts’ invariably resort to hurling abuses and making threats unless the common citizen makes way for them. The drivers of these VIP cars enjoy all the privileges of their masters even when the vehicles are empty because they use both red light and siren with gleeful abandon. They are never pulled up by the traffic cops.
The point to note here is that the majority of cars equipped with sirens and red light beacons in Meghalaya are actually not VIPs. These people are breaking the law by installing red light beacons and sirens without installing one additional accessory on their cars – a designation plate. The Government of India has issued clear directions as to who can use a red light, amber light or blue light on their cars. The list is available with the Shillong Traffic Police too. So why are our traffic cops silent on this issue? If they can be brave enough to fine VIP parking offenders, then they should be taking up this issue which will drastically cut down the number of so-called VIP cars on our congested roads. Will the Addl SP (traffic) or the DGP care to comment on why the police department is sleeping on this issue despite so much hue and cry from the public?
Yours etc.,
Daisy Kharkongor
Via email
Summoned for upholding the law
Editor,
The news items captioned ‘Lawmaker fined for breaking law’ and ‘Traffic cops in trouble after issuing slip to MLA’ (ST. 16/18) made interesting reading. They revealed ‘the man’ in the policemen who have shown their manly character in discharging their duties, without fear or favour, despite encountering the high and the mighty. Shabas! Congratulations to the guardians of the law. May their tribe increase! It is amusing to learn that the traffic cops were summoned by the mighty one for upholding the law. One hopes the cops would be amply rewarded as was done in the days of yore.
The above news reminded me of the episode that took place long ago during the British regime. It was told that the then Governor of an undivided Assam, an English nobleman, had made plan to visit Cherra Poonjee, now Sohra. However, in those days roads were narrow. To prevent accidents, gates were set up at some points to control the inward and outward flow of traffic. Gates were opened or closed at fixed timings. One such gates was at Umtyngar midway between Shillong and Cherra. His Excellency due to heavy pressure of work could not leave Shillong for Cherra in time. When he arrived at Umtyngar, with an army of top officials as escort, it was already late and the gate remained closed. On hearing the blaring or blasting of sirens piercing the darkness, the gate keeper who was already in a tipsy mood came out to investigate. One of the officers accompanying the Governor told him that His Excellency was on his way to Cherra and ordered him to open the gate. The gate keeper refused and shouted, ”Rule is rule; law is law. If for the safety of an ordinary citizen the gate can never be left opened against timing; it is more so for the safety of His Excellency.” The Governor who was ignorant of the gate timing overheard the heated argument. He ordered the convoy to move back to Shillong.
The following day a police car came to Umtyngar. The gate keeper was told that he was summoned by the Governor. Being sobered the gate keeper was seized with fear thinking that he would definitely be punished and sent to jail for his behaviour the night before. However, on reaching the Governor’s House, the gate keeper was given a warm reception by the Governor and a group of top brass for conscientiously performing his duties and upholding the law. He was highly praised and also richly rewarded. Patting the gate keeper’s back the Governor said, ”Shabas young man! Assam, nay, India needs men such as you.” This is the white man’s psyche.
Yours etc.,
AW Khonglam
Shillong-1
High-handed VIPs!
Editor,
The other day, I was surprised to read about the traffic policemen being hauled for fining a VIP for wrong parking. I was even more surprised at what the minister said that he politely requested the traffic cop to park his vehicle in a no-parking area. It was right on the part of the traffic cop not to allow him to park his vehicle there. Just because he is a VIP doesn’t mean that he can park his vehicle anywhere he likes. Besides, the traffic cop was just doing his job. Nobody can summon a traffic cop to appear before the Privileges Committee for performing his duty. If this is the condition, then what would happen in the future if the traffic cops refuse to carry out orders? Every citizen, whether he is a VIP or not, is equal before the law.
Yours etc.,
G. Marbaniang
Shillong- 14