Editor,
B.M. Lanong’s article “Misconceptions about ILP and its ‘wreckless’ handling” is a pathetic attempt at justifying the calamitous role played by the author and his party in perpetrating violence in the state through devious means. Lanong, as the chief architect of the present chaos and mayhem, is hardly in a position to moralise or preach to anybody. He tried playing the role of Brutus to Mukul Sangma’s Caesar at the fag end of the play, but could not quite cut it. It is clear that he is yet to come to terms with the shock and ignominy of being given the boot by the public for his stealthy efforts.
The article shows his utter bewilderment and frustration with the public for refusing to play by his rules. The outrage and strong reactions against ILP seems to have completely overwhelmed him. in his frustration, he flays wildly at his detractors – ordinary men and women, lawyers, prominent persons, Durbar Headmen, “government connects” (whatever that means), truck owners, miners, the Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF), the non-indigenous community (who are bestowed with the noble term “all that crap”) and his bête- noire Mukul Sangma. This appears to be the reaction of an incoherent and desperate man who is intolerant of others’ opinions. His arguments ring hollow and his misgivings read like a fairy tale. I am also yet to figure out the meaning of the term “wreckless” which is used in the title. Is it the same as “wreck” or “shipwreck”? In which case, Lanong’s (ILP) Ark seems to have well and truly sunk!
Yours etc.,
Daisy Kharkongor
Shillong
NGOs prove your innocence!
Editor,
In the midst of this entire ILP debate I wish to ask a straight forward question to the leaders of the 10 NGOs. Would you dare subject your assets to RTI over the last two years? If you can prove your innocence which I doubt that you can, then I would submit that you have no right to hold to ransom all the families especially the daily wage earners who are deprived of their two square meals and live in uncertainty during the bandh calls.
Yours etc.,
Kenneth Pala,
Via email
Give respect to get respect
Editor,
I was sad to cancel my plans of visiting Shillong/ Cherrapunjee during Durga Puja. I had intended to stay for two to three days to explore the beautiful village of Mawlynnong and surroundings. But after I got to know from Facebook that violence against non-Khasi people was happening regularly, I decided to cancel the trip. There was also a horrifying picture of a person burnt alive by Khasi agitators on Facebook. I later got to know from friends about another incident when two gentlemen from Kolkata were mercilessly beaten up by local people in the heart of the city. These gentlemen were also tourists (like myself) who were assaulted with sticks and iron rods for no reason.
I want to know from the people of Shillong what they hope to gain by beating up tourists and committing violence against other communities. Are we savages who beat up our guests? Do we not welcome you with open arms when you visit Assam? There are thousands of people who travel from Shillong to Guwahati and beyond. Some of them have made these places their homes permanently. We welcome them in our homes without prejudice or restriction. What would you say if suddenly they were subjected to similar fate because of your actions? Please ask yourselves this question before taking the dangerous path of communal violence.
Yours etc.,
Ranjan Kakati
Khanapara, Guwahati
Wanted some civilized behaviour
Editor,
Enough has been commented upon by many sane writers on the pros and cons of imposing the ILP on the state and I would not like to further expand on the subject except to ask the pro ILP agitators and the government to extend a little give and take to each other; to sit down and to analyze the subject like people in civilized nations do. The government claims to have laws in place which can control immigration, legal or illegal, so why can the pro ILP supporters not pressurize the government to start implementing these laws instead of supporting agitations which have put the people under a lot of harassment. As the government begins to enforce these laws, loop-holes will appear and these loop-holes can then be systematically plugged. This way within a few years we should have laws which will be strong enough to deter immigrants although a full stop to immigration will not be possible as long as jobs are aplenty across the border (especially in the coal fields and lime quarries) as we have seen in the case of the Mexican immigrants sneaking into the USA despite the US using it’s high tech equipment to deter them. It is time we behaved like educated people living in the 21st century. In a Christian dominated state like Meghalaya, let us not follow the dictum ‘Christan ka naam, Shaitan ka kaam’.
Yours etc.,
DM Pariat,
Camp – Manchester, UK.