The Inner Line Permit seems to have captured the imagination of a section of pressure groups as an instrument for checking influx. The problem with Meghalaya is that somebody has an idea, even a redundant one and because of lazy thinking everyone rallies round that idea as if to think differently is a sacrilege. This has turned even the most anachronistic ideas that would normally not stand scrutiny in other more progressive states, into sacrosanct discourses. The entire populace is expected to veer around the idea or be termed a traitor. Another irony about Meghalaya is that every issue or non-issue is outsourced to pressure and interest groups whose avocations remain constant – that of getting the government of the day in a belly-up position. The opposition parties do not engage sufficiently and do not even exercise their minds on most matters. Thinking appears to be anathema to politicians. No wonder they simply toe the NGO line as if they too have become an NGO.
Politics is not about appeasement or populism. It is about getting real and thinking about what’s best for the State and its people. Politics is not only about getting hyper-active on the eve of elections. And the Government is not the sole repository of wisdom. Wisdom resides in every person who chooses to storm his/her brain. Democracy has no place for lazy citizenry. Anyone who opposes an idea must come up with a better one. In fact Government would do well to reward anyone who is creative enough to think of the best mechanism to control/check influx. This would at least get people to put on their thinking caps. Who knows what good ideas from a large section of thinking youth are lost for want of a platform to air those? Sadly governments in Meghalaya have always succumbed to rabble rousers. It has to be said that ‘NGOs’ are not the only people who care about the future of Meghalaya. And if we are to depend on NGOs to save us from every distressing situation then why waste time, money and energy on elections? Why have an elected government if that government is also out-sourcing everything to a committee/commission and what have you.
Increasingly we see the number of days slotted for debates on important issues in the legislature severely truncated. Many critical issues are pushed through without much debate. This has weakened the legislature and raised questions about the government’s commitment to legislative ethics. Short of suing the government for drastically reducing the Assembly sessions thereby eroding the democratic ethos of this country, there is very little that opposition can do. Someone has to challenge the Government of the day on this!