Comedy of errors
It’s become a habit of sorts for gaffes and howlers to happen at functions attended by Meghalaya Governor RS Mooshahary.
At a recent spiritual discourse held in a city based Institute of culture, the compere (?) hemmed and hawed over the pronunciation of the Governor’s title almost like a kid taking the first tentative steps towards pronouncing three-lettered syllable.
She was reading the name of dignitaries from a handwritten list which was she later said was not legible. During the lighting of the ceremonial lamp she invited the god-man present but forgot to call the Governor.
Finally, as the spiritual leader was felicitating the dignitaries with a saffron linen cloth, she stammered and stuttered on the names and because of the discomfiture forgot to invite the Governor. Realizing her mistake the compere pointed at the Governor and said ‘His Excellency’ indicating that he should also come forward to be felicitated. There was visible sign of annoyance in the expressions of many in the audience at this unbecoming conduct.
Road Repair
The PWD is carpeting the road near the State Central Library with a thick layer of asphalt.
That is a road that is least in need of repair work. Many other roads in the city need not just a coat of tar but major repair including the one bang opposite the Rhino museum which has been the cause of many an accident.
The Rilbong Zigzag road which will shortly become the most used by VIPs on their way to Brookside Mansion for the upcoming assembly session needs more than a coat of tar. So too the road alongside the Rilbong Beat House.
The condition of the highway right from Garikhana to Civil Hospital Junction is nightmarish. Pedestrians and car owners in the city say that nearly every road in the city requires intensive repair work not just a facelift.
But our PWD only dances to the tune of the Minister in charge and succumbs to pressures from MLAs, feel the large constituents of Shillongites.
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum of Meghalaya politics
How many MLAs/ministers from Khasi-Jaintia Hills accompanied Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma to the pre-budget exercise at Tura? One MLA can certainly raise his hands.
Octogenarian, Hopingstone Lyngdoh was present at Tura and also at the same exercise in Shillong.
Recently, Lyngdoh was also part of the entourage that drove to Jaintia Hills for the inauguration of the much-touted first unit of the Leshka- Myntdu project.
During lunch hour, Mr Lyngdoh strayed into the area reserved for journalists and other invitees or was guided to that space by none other than a senior bureaucrat. No one knows if it was a monumental error or intentional. But when the senior legislator was missed from the VIP lunch hall someone went looking for him and guided him back to where he belonged.
A wit commented that HS Lyngdoh and Dr Mukul Sangma are like tweedle dee and tweedle dum. One follows the other everywhere! There are other MLAs/minister as well who are sighted in pairs.
Anyone who can make a guess gets the Shillong Times most observant reader award!