Editor,
I am an ardent reader of the ST and keep following the news of the State even when I am travelling outside the state and overseas. While your news gathering is commendable in that news from across the state figures in your publication, of late, your newspaper has been on a Dr. Mukul Sangma witch-hunt and some of your stories even hit below the belt. For instance, while everyone knows that Dr Sangma is unwell and still convalescing after treatment in Delhi, you have the time to claim that he is on an extended holiday.
Today’s big story is his house which according to you costs Rs 10 crore. Is it a crime for a Chief Minister to be accorded an official bungalow? Should the official quarters of the chief executive of the state not have state of the art facilities to help him in discharging his responsibilities even on holidays from his home? Have you tried to find out how much the residence of the CMs of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur cost? All along while he was quietly living in his small private residence, did you ever once even consider telling your readers about it? When he too bore the brunt of frequent load shedding and irregular water supply just like anyone else, did it merit a small mention? At any point of time did he ever indicate his rush to occupy the quarters?
Furthermore, do you think it is wise to declare the finer details of the official residence of the CM as to how many rooms, where is what located etc.? What if miscreants, mischief mongers or for that matter anti-national elements use the information that you published, courtesy an official of the GAD to plot something sinister? I don’t see how this kind of dining table gossip merits top priority in your esteemed newspaper especially when people are dying in Uttarakhand due to natural calamities.
It seems to me that your paper is trying to scuttle Dr. Mukul Sangma’s efforts to usher in all round development in the State. Or is someone simply living up to the adage – “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”.
Yours etc.,
Bashanlang Lyngdoh
Shillong -3
Editor replies: We hold no brief for any politician, minister or the government in power. It is our duty to inform readers about public expenditures incurred on different projects. We are only carrying out our responsibilities as an independent media.
Sorry state of Rilbong Circular Road
Editor,
Through your esteemed newspaper I wish to draw attention to the sorry state of the Rilbong Circular Road following the laying of pipes undertaken by Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (P.H.E.). The narrow road has become a veritable death-trap for the residents of the locality for the last one and a half month.
The inconveniences are many and matters are compounded by increased traffic and the heavy rain. Are the authorities listening? When can we expect some action from the concerned authority?
Yours etc.,
Shekhar Bhattacharjee
Shillong-4
Irregularities
Editor,
As a concerned citizen of the state I write to inform that the Khrumdiengiei Higher Secondary School at Umbir is being run irregularly. Till 2012 the same was only a Secondary School and from this year onwards the Higher Secondary section was started. The illegal part of that when the HS section progressing towards a college was conceptualized there were no advertisements for the post of faculty or for the Principal to run the Higher Secondary School. However when the sessions started on June 11, it was learnt that the faculty currently teaching at Khrumdiengiei are also teaching at Union Christian College (UCC). The principal too is currently teaching at UCC. How can a faculty of one college teach in another college at the same time? Doesn’t this violate the service rules? Also does this not block the opportunities for other qualified personnel to teach at the newly opened HS School?
Yours etc.,
J Lyngdoh
Shillong