Open letter to Chief Minister
SHILLONG: Senior Adviser of the Indigenous Biodiversity & Social Welfare Organization (IBSWO), Rev. PBM Basaiawmoit, has shot off an open letter to Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma asking him to end the ILP impasse by creating a forum to debate on the pros and cons of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Inner Line Regulation (BEFILR), 1873 and also on the proposed Tenancy Act.
“Would it not be possible to examine the relevant laws and policies agitating the mind of the people? I am certain that some misgivings can be removed on both of these, and perhaps, together and with common understanding, plug possible loop holes therein,” Rev. Basaiawmoit said in the open letter addressed to Chief Minister here on Wednesday.
Admitting that Dr. Sangma’s Government has a majority with 42 MLAs which is more than two-thirds majority, the IBSWO adviser said that the Chief Minister would agree that election manifestoes do not count much during the election(s) as both the people and candidates hardly spend time on them.
“Most often, local, domestic emotional attachment to a candidate and money count more than policies. As such, post election participatory democracy through non-partisan consultation and others should be resorted to in addition to having overwhelming majority in the House,” he said.
Basaiawmoit said that through press reports, he has come to learn that the Chief Minister is not allowing any leeway for the NGOs to gain an upper hand by categorically stating that the Government will not accept implementation of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Inner Line Regulation, 1873 and also stating that that the Ordinance on Tenancy would be a more effective law to prevent outsiders from creating a demographic imbalance and other related concerns.
“Since the Ordinance is not yet in the public purview, one cannot comment on its merits and demerits, implying that we are compelled to go by your statement on its advantages over the BEFILR,” Rev. Basaiawmoit said.
“Again through press reports, you (Dr. Sangma) have stated that unless the NGOs stop the ‘tactical agitation’ (my terminology), the door is closed to talks and negotiations. Now, thinking things through, when space is not provided for sharing of views across the table and finding the way together to move forward, what options are open,” he said in his open letter.
He also suggested the Chief Minister to open the door for discussions without pre-conditions, by inviting the Autonomous District Councils and Traditional Institutions, i.e. Rangbah Shnong and village heads or the traditional chiefs, i.e., Syiem, Doloi and Nokma to debate on this issue. “This might ensure that the outcome is positive and the execution, effective,” he added.