Editor,
To someone unconnected with Meghalaya politics, it may appear strange that NGOs do not consider the non-tribal citizens, the minority in the state but majority in the country, as stakeholders in the ILP debate. Several people have already pointed out the fascistic approach taken by NGOs towards the non-tribal community living here. Some have even likened these NGOs to Hitler’s Nazis, and not without reason one might add. By spewing out hatred in public forums against the non-tribals and propagating a skewed theory of racial puritanism, they have invited condemnation from citizens across the length and breadth of this country and throughout the world. The Opposition parties, our classic fence sitters, have now joined the ILP bandwagon to make merry at the expense of the common people. But once one grasps the underlying motives behind the ILP demand, it seems only natural that this issue would be raked up time and again by one party or another at critical junctures. From the NGO standpoint, it is a one-point agenda – build a fear psychosis to chase out non-tribals from the state and capture their properties and businesses, just as they have done in the past. On the other hand, the politicians in the Opposition are using ILP to ambush Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and bring down the Government. The groundwork for this was prepared by the UDP’s Bindo Lanong before the last elections. The recommendation of the ILP committee headed by Lanong was no strange coincidence but a well thought-out conspiracy to subvert the mandate of the people.
All these Machiavellian maneuverings have come at the expense of the poor people of the state. The NGOs are secure in their financial health and so too are the politicians. Most government servants and office-goers are happy to get paid holidays and welcome bandhs and picketing, regardless of what they may say in public. But the person who depends on a daily income, the daily wage labourer, the petty shopkeeper, the vegetable vendor, the grocer and the fish seller is the one whose family will go hungry because their right to livelihood has been hijacked by a band of thugs and crooked politicians. How long will this government continue to submit itself to this kind of blackmail without taking action? People are tired of hearing the excuse that there are not enough forces for law and order. One hardly sees any policemen even during emergencies on the streets of Shillong except traffic cops. There is zero patrolling in commercial areas of the city even during daytime. The CRPF men seem content to rest their behinds in one place rather than move about on patrol to inject confidence in the citizenry. Will the DGP please pull up his socks and ensure that we see an end to the violence and arson which has become a daily affair in the city without trotting out his favourite excuse?
Yours etc.,
Terrence K Marak
Shillong -3
In gratitude
Editor,
I would like to express my sincere thanks to The Shillong Times for bringing out timely and up to date news on a daily basis. We, as expatriates are kept informed of all events, especially the local news. I wish the Shillong Times, it’s Editor, Reporters, and all the Staff for more success in the days to come.
May I make a fervent request. Please, do not shut down the newspaper on holidays. Surely, you do have news enough to be published. The size and number of pages may be reduced we have no problem with that. Once again, thanks and keep it up.
Your etc.,
Dr. Gregory S. Kharmalki.
Assumption University/ St. Theresa Ingt. College,
Thailand