Editor,
The 2013 elections promise to be a keenly contested one with a multitude of super rich individuals entering the fray. PWD contractors, coal mine proprietors, car dealers and real estate magnates have all thrown their hats into the ring. No doubt the majority of them will prevail by the sheer weight of their purses alone and not for the correct reasons. It is a worrying state of affairs for Meghalaya where the chasm between rich and poor has widened tremendously over the years.
It is common knowledge that businessmen are in it for the profit and not for reasons of philanthropy. Their sole objective is to grab power to influence policy decisions affecting their businesses and become rich as Croesus. There is no other reason which takes precedence over this unbending objective. It is also well-known that much of their wealth has been accumulated through dubious means. How else can a PWD contractor or a former government servant explain such rapid accumulation of wealth which enables them to spend crores of rupees during elections in a poor state like Meghalaya?
As an example, let us look at the meteoric rise of a hitherto-unknown former PWD engineer and coal dealer called Vincent Pala. As per 2012 official estimates, Pala is worth 26 crores of rupees with 34 known bank accounts whose declared assets include 10 cars, prime properties at 15 locations under his own name including Lachumiere, Mawlai, Nongrim Hills, Polo, Keating Road, Khanapara, Kahikuchi (Assam) and Byrnihat, and 30 coal mine surface rights. Unofficial estimates put that figure at around 60 crores with more prime properties at Laban and Sohra, a fleet of trucks and a Toyota dealership to boot! It would be interesting to know how Pala built his Midas-like empire on a government salary in such short time. Perhaps he will be generous enough to share his secret with us.
The above example is only the tip of the iceberg. One can cite several such instances of dubious accumulation of wealth by the present crop of netas. It is therefore crystal clear as to what lies beyond the 2013 elections. More billionaire netas will crop up to join the opulent Pala in the super-rich list. They will then go on to contest election after election, with each election moving them a notch higher in that list. Are these the people we want to vote for?
Yours etc.,
Daisy Kharkongor
Via email
Dilemma of depositing arms
Editor,
It was reported in your newspaper (ST 28th Jan 2013) that the Deputy Commissioner ,East Jaintia Hiils District has issued an order to all arms licence holders in the District to deposit their arms at the nearest police station before 4th February 2013.This is perhaps to prevent any untoward incidents and law and order problems during the upcoming election to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. The West Jaintia Hills District Administration has already issued such an order and it is expected that the other District Administrations will follow suit. While the genuine arms license holders have to comply with the orders, many have questioned as to whether those who possess unlicensed arms are targeted as well since there are several such people. Those who possess arms licenses genuinely need the arms for protection particularly if they resides in areas considered unsafe. Quite a few possess arms which serve as showpieces and these are treasured as priceless possessions. By and large these are peaceful people who have no intent to use these weapons. The threat is therefore from those people who carry unlicensed arms and who therefore are not in the radar of the District Administration. Such people can be menacing and can create havoc everywhere. However, this is a different case altogether and it is left to the administration to do what is best. The matter which is of concern is that many genuine arms holders who usually comply with the orders of the District Administration, complain that the arms deposited by them at the police stations are not properly kept. Secondly , at the time of retrieving these arms the licensees are subjected to unnecessary harassments at the police stations, including interminable delays. Licensed arms holders tend to feel unsafe by this temporary absence of arms in their possessions, mainly because they are skeptical of getting prompt assistance from the law enforcers if and when required. Many prefer giving a declaration with supporting documents at the police station instead of depositing the arms. These are issues which warrant serious consideration by the District Administrations across the State but more so in vulnerable areas.
Yours etc.,
K Dkhar,
Shillong-2