Editor,
Finally the cat is out of the bag. The Govt has arrested two KSU members on Tuesday night after a magisterial enquiry fixed responsibility for the April 4 carnage squarely on the KSU. The union reacted in predictable fashion to these arrests with more acts of vandalism. With such a senseless reaction, the KSU, by its own hand, has in all likelihood sealed the fate of Johnny Lyngdoh and Teilang Nongbri! More arrests are in the offing. We have seen that the new Govt is more confident and not averse to going head-to-head with the KSU unlike in the past. The recent crackdown on KSU members accused of murdering a labourer from Assam bore testimony to this fact. One only hopes that this new-found enthusiasm doesn’t fizzle out midway before justice has been served. A strong message needs to be sent to criminal elements that they will not escape justice through political wheeling-dealing.
Yours etc.,
Daisy Kharkongor
Via email
MeECL mismanagement
Editor,
In my opinion, the so called ‘load shedding’ taking place since April 25th is, to put it simply (and literally) – daylight robbery from the general public of the state in order for the state government to pay off its outstanding dues to NEEPCo. Businesses and livelihoods depend on power, and the very fact that the outages take place during the day causes irrecoverable losses on them. This loss to the general public is in effect the savings that the state government makes, to possibly pay-off its dues. Obviously they never had a plan to liquidate those dues in the first place. It is also clear that the government will not pay a higher premium for continued power supply as that would result in more debts. I’m sure though a proven connection may never be established, you still get the picture.
Those responsible for the financial mismanagement should be held accountable and a proper and publicly acceptable debt management plan should be adopted so that the citizens of the state never have to bear the costs of such incompetence ever again. As things stand, it is ironic that what is supposed to be providing public services is actually now instead being serviced publicly!
Yours etc.,
L Warjri
Shillong -1
CMJ University
Editor,
The CMJ University scam has crossed the Meghalaya borders and reached even the south Indian states. CMJ has already issued more than one lakh degrees all over the country but claim that they have only 2734 students! They literally issue blank signed and sealed provisional degree certificates, and the agents to fill student details. Isn’t this a degree selling shop? As per Section 14 (1) CMJ University Act, 2009, the sponsor shall appoint a Chancellor subject to the approval of the Visitor (Governor). Today the Governor is saying he had never given approval for appointing a Chancellor for this university. This means that University was not functional from 2009! Without the appointment of the Chancellor, other authorities like the Vice chancellor, Registrars, CoE etc cannot be appointed. Without all these statutory posts being filled up, how the University start functioning?
Presently, the Governor is the only authority of the CMJ university as Visitor! So how could some person without the concurrence of the Governor ‘illegally’ function under him? Surprisingly the Governor is saying this only now, after four years when he knew very that CMJ University was functioning with or without his approval of a Chancellor. Who is responsible for this situation?
Once the university is enacted by a state act, then the sole authority is the Governor. The Government actually has a very limited role.
Yours etc.,
Dr Roshan,
Vie email
NGOs must declare their finances
Editor,
For a long time now the public has been asking questions about where NGOs like KSU, FKJGP, CSWO and others get their funds without getting a single response from these organizations. People have been demanding that these NGOs come clean and declare their finances upfront if they hope to maintain any semblance of credibility with the public. There have been many instances, past and present, of KSU leaders becoming filthy rich in a most puzzling manner in the shortest possible time. One does not have to delve very deep to find out who these leaders are/were – the knowledge is in the public domain. Where did they get the money? More importantly, what did they do to get the money and how did they use it? The Govt must take cognizance of such facts and take appropriate action to find out details and share the information with all. I am sure the Govt. sleuths would not face too much trouble in ascertaining the facts considering that everyone on the streets seem to have this information. The concern is whether the sources of funding are legitimate and whether the funds are being used in the right manner.
Yours etc.,
James Pariat
Via email