Editor,
I was very glad to know that Mr P A Sangma is being projected as the tribal candidate for the post of President of India. Definitely he is the most towering tribal leader at present who has proven his mettle in national politics as speaker of the august Lok Sabha. He is a winner of the Magsaysay International Award and he is the as well the General Secretary of the NCP. But I was rather shocked to see the remarks made by the anchor of a particular news channel regarding Mr. Sangma’s candidature. From the attitude and remarks that the anchor made it was evident to the audience that there was a cynical contempt for the tribal people in general.
Now the question is, is P A Sangma’s candidature merely a demand for tribal concession? I would strongly object to that for that would be a distortion of the truth. His candidature is strongly based on his personal merits as an able leader, a shrewd politician and a morally upright person. Is he inferior to Pranab Mukherjee, Dr. Abdul Kalam, Shri Ansari or any other presidential candidate? Only a fool or a grossly prejudiced person will subscribe to this. Shri P. A. Sangma is doubtlessly one of the rightful candidates to the highest post of the country. That he is a tribal person or a Christian by religion, is of secondary consideration. But I was appalled to watch how the media has twisted the fact to suit their agenda, thereby turning it into a racial politics and putting the tribal people in bad light. I would expect the national media to be more just and unprejudiced in presenting facts related to the tribal people. P A Sangma’s candidature should be put in the right perspective. Therefore let every Indian understand that Mr Sangma’s candidature is not a concession but it is based on merit. That he is a tribal and a Christian should only help him to garner more support from other sections of the Indian community keeping in mind that we are still a minority. I hope our tribal leaders all over the country will unite their voices in supporting this cause.
Barnes Mawrie, sdb,
Via email
Mindless bandh
Editor,
The bandh called the GNLA is affecting the very people they claim to represent.Their ignorance is so obvious from the fact that they fail to realize that what they’re doing is only what the desperate resort to. They’re not A’chiks like they claim to be but a bunch of gun wielding bullies. If they really want to make a difference call off the bandh and pick on someone their own size instead of torturing innocent villagers and children who deserve the right to proper education.
Yours etc.,
D Sangma,
Via email
Whither press freedom?
Editor,
The government talks of bringing a closer working relationship with the media saying that the fourth estate are the eyes and ears of a strong democracy. But the recent chain of events where a columnist was summoned for questioning by the cops for writing an article on the derailment of the Mining & Minerals policy reflects a narrow mindset within the government of accepting the truth. Firstly the supersonic speed of a magistrate to issue an order based on a mere complaint speaks of hyper judicial activism. Secondly, how can the police detain someone on a mere article and at the behest of a flimsy complain. Perhaps the guys in uniform should be taken to Court for not being aware of some basic Constitutional rights and for violating an individual’s fundamental rights. In reality the writer of the article was well within his rights and wrote the truth. If some people feel find it difficult to digest the truth and yet speak of a tolerant society they are hypocrites iof the first order.
Yours etc.,
Dominic S Wankhar,
Shillong-3
GNLA bandh suicidal
Editor,
The GNLA bandh threatens to destory the futiure of students and the fragile economy of Garo Hills. If the GNLA is fighting for the Garo Hills why are they creating such a problem for us the people? They don’t even think of their own brothers and sisters who are daily wage labourers and who are on the verage of starvation. Some studentsare having exams; some are seeking for admissions elsewhere. Have they ever thought of these students? I think they don’t care about education and development. The GNLA leader is a policemen who knows only about guns and bullets. How long can people tolerate such regressive acts?
Yours etc.,
AR Sangma,
Via email