Editor,
Nearly two months of bandhs, office picketing, and night road blockades have raucously passed by over the Inner-Line Permit (ILP) issue. However, the majority of those who had participated in the February Assembly polls to exercise their right to franchise have chosen to remain soundless and unheard. The pressure groups, on one hand, and the Meghalaya government, on the other, have been throwing mud at each other – one trying to egoistically demonstrate the other is inferior. One trying to show that “my view is the best” and “yours is blatantly undesirable”.
Now, whose views really matter? A handful of pressure groups who do not really have a mass following or the elected representatives who were chosen by the first-past-the-post system wherein, even if one managed to garner less than 50 per cent of the total votes polled, is declared a winner? If the-more-than-a-dozen-pressure-groups, should not and cannot claim to represent the majority voice of the people, in the same way, not all the 60 elected legislators can claim to be the people’s representatives as in most cases, their votes do not reflect that the majority actually voted for them. In fact, a majority of the voters, voted against them! This is one of the most undemocratic shams in the world’s largest democracy. Count the votes for yourselves and you will discover the sham!
In such a scenario where the so-called representative democracy is not in reality “representative”, what do we do? Should the stalemate continue? Should the pressure groups continue to hold all of us to ransom? Should the government of the day remain adamant? Should the common folks, the unsalaried class, continue to remain victims of the egoistic fight between Chief Minister Mukul M. Sangma and the pressure groups?
Sangma has been orchestrating a bill – Meghalaya Landlords Regulation and Tenants Regulation – as he sees this mechanism as the best to check influx and illegal immigration into the state. Public consultations are in the offing where stakeholders from various quarters will be invited to share their views. Undoubtedly, it is wise to consult and come to a common understanding as to how best the problems should be tackled. The chief minister has done well in constituting a ministerial committee, which would act as the backbone of the consultations on the bill. But the same chief minister should also ensure that pragmatic suggestions given by ordinary men and women should not be trashed away just because they do not have the suffix “I.A.S” or “M.C.S” attached to their names. In fact, the ordinary folks are more pragmatic in their approach than the so-called bureaucrats.
Coming back to the ILP stalemate, which has hit the state hard, a dialogue between the two sides – pressure groups and government – is the only answer right now. Although the groups have made known that even if they talk it will only be on the ILP, the government, as a benevolent democratic institution, should not hesitate in calling these groups for talks. Maybe the first rounds of talks on August 29, 2013 had failed. There is no guarantee that a fresh dialogue would end up the same way. But there is also no guarantee that some common ground can be reached between the two warring sides to end the impasse, which has crippled Meghalaya.
Yours etc.,
A Lyngdoh,
Shillong-2
A Pastor’s call
Editor,
As a preacher, I admit that whatever is happening in the name of ILP is disturbing the peace of this so called Christian-state and the churches are being blamed for being silent! For this reason I decided to write this letter. As a pastor I have been preaching from the Bible and addressing the issue of violence as non-Biblical. Furthermore, Biblically people who truly follow Christ do not do spread hatred and violence. Christians are followers of Christ and those who are involved in killing human beings are guilty! Yes, as a community we should preserve our culture and traditions but not this way! There are other constructive ways to do so. And Christians don’t kill people, instead they give their life for others!
I appeal to all young people and others not to take the road of violence. It leads nowhere and ends in destruction! I apologize to all our friends and family members from different communities who have been attacked and also our condolences are with those family members who lost someone close. My heart grieves as an Indian and also as a citizen who follows Christ! Let me assure you the Church is not silent. It is because we don’t want to bring in politics into the Church but whatever is happening has made me as a pastor to respond! I request all the NGO’s and the Government to involve in active and constructive dialogue to come out with a solution without further delay.
Our prayer is that God brings peace once again to our state and let there be TRANSFORMATION! Let us free ourselves from corrupt politicians by electing the right candidates who are educated and sacrificial! A Khasi travelling outside Meghalaya for work is respected. I meet people at airports and railway stations and they don’t see me as an alien. Just because some don’t understand the meaning of being Indian doesn’t mean that all fall in the same category! Most Khasis are broad-minded and accommodating. Friends, lets protect and preserve our beautiful state but in a peaceful way! Let’s respect other communities and protect them and remember that many people from the Khasi community are living outside Meghalaya too!
Our state needs development. Our youth are frustrated because of unemployment; poor people are dying and no one cares for them! If you want to see a real Khasi go to a village. She/he is in need of help and no one bothers. Go to the offices where poor Khasi people wait outside and their work is never done. Yet corrupt officials from the same community don’t bother! We need change and it cannot happen in isolation; we need to work together! As a pastor my job is to encourage even those involved in violence to repent of their sins. Let’s work for our state with a sound mind!
Yours etc.,
Danny K. Rajee,
Teaching Pastor, Shillong Grace Church