Editor,
The recent interim order passed by a single judge bench of the Gauhati High Court on Aug 11, 2012 to close down all bars and liquor shops within a radius of 500 metres of educational and religious institutions , hospitals , dispensaries , nursing homes , courts and tribunals within the Kamrup administration of Guwahati in Assam , has opened up the eyes of many in Meghalaya . As I was travelling home to Shillong from the Guwahati Airport via Khanapara / Jorabad , there was an unprecedented rush in the Khanapara wine shops at the Meghalaya Border as the aforementioned Court order does not prevail beyond Assam. In Meghalaya drinks were available at a much cheaper rate than in Guwahati. I believe the Gauhati High Court has acted upon the laws passed by Parliament on the Excise rules for sale of liquor in the bars or wine stores throughout India and Shillong or Meghalaya is no exception. The social ills as a result of liquors consumption are there for all to see but it will take a long time before similar orders are passed by the Courts in respect of Shillong city. There are many places that are openly violating the law and selling liquor or setting up wine stores within a radius of 500 metres of educational and religious institutions , hospitals dispensaries, nursing homes, etc , here in Shillong.
Yours etc.,
Cliff R Sohtun
Shillong -6
Service extension and the CS’s statement
Editor,
Apropos the news item “State Cabinet kept in the dark”(ST 22nd August 2012”) relating to the extension of service of W Kharmalki in the State Sports Council , it is inappropriate for the Chief Secretary who is the topmost bureaucrat in the State Government to expose to the public about the failure of another Department within the same government particularly when it appears that on this matter a government functionary of no less than the Deputy Chief Minister of the State himself who heads the particular Department is involved. As a responsible government official particularly in his position he cannot absolve himself of any action that was committed in the Government and his primary responsibility is to defend such action of the Government whether he likes it or not in public instead of passing the buck. At the same time he should have taken immediate steps to defuse the unsavoury situation . In this particular instance, he may claim that he might not be aware of what takes place in another Department which is however highly unlikely since senior bureaucrats of other Departments normally confide in the Chief Secretary whenever they are uncomfortable with the orders of their respective Ministers. Even otherwise, in his position as Cabinet Secretary also he could have immediately called for the records the moment the matter became public and promptly placed the matter before the Cabinet for decision and accordingly assure the public that such positive action has been taken by him to initiate the process of retracting the wrong decision taken earlier. Since it appears that he has not stated that and judging by the fact that this matter has been allowed to drag on till date I see no reason as to why he needs to make any other unnecessary comments to the public and expose his own flaw or helplessness. Unfortunate indeed!
Yours etc.,
R Dutta,
Shillong -6
Vivid memories?
Editor,
With reference to B L Nongrum’s letter ( ST Aug 23, 2012) allow me to respond as follows:
I don’t remember having called Mr Vincent H. Pala, the Congress Candidate who was overwhelmingly elected MP of Shillong and is now an a Union Minister, ‘corrupt’ during the Parliamentary Election Campaign of 2009 for I did not indulge in personality bashing rather it is policies that matter.
I also don’t remember displaying a CD pertaining to what B L Nongrum is supposed to have seen me doing so in his/her locality while campaigning then since I never had and do not have such a CD in my possession. Furthermore, where ever, I’m asked to contribute thoughts and analysis on religious freedom in India, I’ve always stated and continue to do so that we need to find out for ourselves which political party was in power when the supposed ‘Religious Freedom’ law was enacted in a particular state and who gets to implement the same.
The BJP in Meghalaya had not officially declared support for the UDP candidate and so where and how would I relate the UDP with the BJP for the 2009 Parliamentary elections? I remember clearly that I’d spent much time in elucidating the proposed Programme of Action if elected and which am still pursuing in a small way, even though I was not elected. If B L Nongrum has audio and visual evidences to the contrary, I would be glad to hear and see them for perhaps, his/her memory is more vivid than mine, presumably, having been an apt listener during the campaign. With regard to Mr. P. A. Sangma’s candidature for the Presidency, I’m sure he is within his rights to seek for and receive support from a cross section of the electoral college, transcending party lines and political divide since the presidential elections is fought not on party lines and the the Anti- Defection Law does not apply. Rather, it was an appeal to the conscience of the voter which Mrs Indira Gandhi had used and succeeded in 1969 whereby, VV Giri, was elected over the official Congress candidate, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy. However, 2012 did not repeat 1969.”
Yours etc.,
Rev Dr PBM. Basaiawmoit
Shillong-12