Editor,
In the last few weeks the attention of the people of Shillong was drawn to the arrest of Agnes Kharshiing who claims to be the President of CSWO. The arrest was projected differently by the media, making her a martyr of sorts. This subsequently resulted in people having different views about the arrest. The swift action taken by the police deserves appreciation from the public since it’s her second arrest after a long time. Much attention was given to whether or not she would be booked under MPDA which was later clarified by the district administration. But there are certain facts which I feel the public should know but the truth is being hidden with an ulterior motive.
Firstly, the claim of Kharshing to be President CSWO is false. As per the official findings of Ms C. Kharkongor the then Joint Registrar, of Societies, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong which was issued vide letter NO. E.16/18/20111/152, dt 24/8/2013, Irene P Hujon is still the President of the CSWO as it was when the Society was registered on Aug 9, 2007. No change in incumbency was ever reported to the Registrar for their record. Neither was a copy of the minutes recording such change by an Annual General Meeting submitted as required under the rules. I had obtained the copy of the letter vide RTI application in January 2012 and had written a letter to both Kharshiing and Irene Hujon to settle the matter in the way it should be rather than claiming themselves as ‘President’ by misrepresentation of facts. Isn’t this a case of two power hungry women fighting over the ‘President’s post of a Civil Society Organization which is not only absurd but rather suspicious as whether such President’s post is also another ‘money-minting racket’.
Secondly, on Nov 15, 2013, your paper had carried a news item that one of the land-owners namely, G. Kharsohtun had countered the claim of Kharshiing. She had stated that the land was willingly sold by her to the Government and not by force as claimed by Kharshiing.
Lastly, will our RTI activist Angela Rangad do more homework before crying ‘wolf’ against the Government. You don’t have to be an RTI activist to file an RTI like I did. Since you have taken up every issue pertaining to the “people” of Meghalaya, will you also kindly let us (common folks) know your stand on ILP?
Enough is enough! Don’t fool us just because you claim to be activists! Shillongites are not fool!
Yours etc,
Facta Meshwa Lyngdoh
Shillong -8
On Islam
Editor,
Apprpos the letter of Chandrashekhar (ST Nov 28, 2013), the message of unity in diversity is indeed welcome, but statements like “….Islam is intolerant of diverse faiths” is not. I would like to clarify the view in Islam regarding other Religions with the following verse of the Qur’an: Sura CIX: Inthe name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Say: O ye that reject faith/ I worship not that which ye worship/ Nor will ye worship that which I worship/ And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship/ Nor will ye worship that which I worship/ Unto you your Religion, and unto me mine.
This is an early Makkan verse and was revealed to Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) when once the non-believers asked the Prophet to accept their religion for a day and in return the non-believers offered to accept the religion being preached by the Prophet. Although it was revealed more than 1400 years ago, yet it is still relevant. The verses clearly conveys the message of tolerance towards different faiths.
Yours etc.,
S.Ahmed
Shillong-1
Survey along Indo-Bangla border
Editor,
When survey is being done along the Indo Bangla border in Tripura, why is the Garo Hills being neglected? The people are told that gun running, drug running, insurgents infiltration, cross border infiltration, cattle smuggling etc take place due to the porous nature of these regions. Yet the Government does nothing. If the menace is to be checked the Government must get the central agencies to do the survey, compensate the land owners, and finally fence the border. The issue of land compensation is stated to have been initiated in West and South Garo Hill some 4/5 years back but it seems to have been put in the back-burner . It appears the administrators of these districts are more interested in earning bank interests than stopping cross border crimes. Wonder where the usual friends of land owners (NGOs?)are this time ?
Yours etc.,
Nesfield B Sangma,
Via email