Editor,
The move of the government to dump the NGT order reflects totalitarianism unheard of before. The Government comprising the bourgeois politicians, public officials etc., are a self serving lot. This has been the sorry state of affairs in Meghalaya for as long as I can remember, and their recent unexplained quick rebuff to the NGT order is an example of their tyrannical attitude And the candidates’ far-fetched promises to us, ‘the people’ in every election season! Do we buy into their pledges? How much have they delivered on their promises or have they? How long are we going to take this sort of ‘abuse’? Government per se is neither abusive nor selfish; it’s the people who we elect who make the Government what it is.
Yours etc.,
H Syiemlieh,
Via email
Govt of, by and for coal barons!
Editor,
Apropos the report in your paper, “Govt to appeal against NGT ban: CM”, it has become clear that the Govt is indeed sold out to the coal barons of Meghalaya as several people have pointed out in the past in your columns. It is not Mukul Sangma, but the Jaintia Hills Coal Miners’ and Dealers’ Association led by Sniawbhalang Dhar and his cohorts who call the shots here! An all-out effort to overturn the National Green Tribunal’s ban on rat-hole mining is currently underway with Mukul Sangma’s blessing (wait, isnt he a coal baron too? Makes sense that he wants to appeal!). Crores of rupees are being pumped in to lobby influential politicians in Delhi so that a few super-rich individuals like Dhar and company can get richer than Croesus by destroying the environment till not a blade of grass is left! Their fancy cars, shopping malls and ‘palatial’ houses in Shillong, Delhi and other metros are just not enough; they want more! All their claims of, “thousands starving,” if their lucrative, slave-driven business is shut down is a fairy tale. The National Green Tribunal’s order couldn’t have come a day sooner to stop these greedy miners from plundering the environment. The people of Meghalaya all stand behind NGT in their noble effort to save us from ourselves. The stranglehold of coal barons and their pet politicians must be broken once and for all!
Yours etc.,
Jeff Lyngdoh Shillong -6
Solution for power crisis
Editor,
I fully endorse the suggestion put forward by Toki Blah to solve the power crises in his letter to the editor (ST May 3, 2014) under the caption “Solving the Power Crisis.” People of Meghalaya have been suffering on account of the 11 hour load shedding which is unprecedented. This happened due to the faulty policies of the MeECL and the Government of Meghalaya. The MeECL and the ministers, MLAs and MPs should adopt austerity measures and contribute at least 5 days pay to mobilize funds to pay NEEPCo. There are many crore-patis in Meghalaya. These may contribute from their wealth towards the corpus fund the Government is planning to set up. Let us not talk about what the State has given to us, let us talk about what we have given to the State.
Yours etc.
B.B.Chettri
Shillong-2
Congress sponsored lawlessness
Editor,
The demand for “Inner Line Permit” (ILP) is a bad joke played on Meghalaya and the country for too long by a consortium of criminally-inclined pressure groups and successive Congress Govts. The interests of the citizens and the country have always taken a backseat to the great game being played by Congress versus Pressure Groups versus Regional Parties versis Ordinary Citizens. At stake is the life and liberty of Indian citizens who have borne the brunt of discrimination in Meghalaya for decades. The concept of democracy and a united India has been threatened over and over again by pressure groups for whimsical reasons. Their violent agenda and anti-Indian activities have paid rich dividends and kick-started many a political career in Meghalaya. For example, the more violent the KSU or FKJGP leader, the better his chances of becoming a MLA or Minister in the future. That is how politics is played in the State. This emboldens them and pushes them to commit more outrageous crimes including burning people alive in broad daylight. The State Govt in turn promises ex-gratia payments to the families of the victims and the matter is then pushed under the carpet. No case ever goes for trial. The price of murder is a couple of lakhs in the form of ex-gratia payment. The concept of Justice has vanished almost as if it never existed. No single individual has ever stood trial for racial crimes and murders and these will be marked down as “unsolved crimes” in the annals of Meghalaya Police. Clearly the twin policies of “divide-and-rule” and “vote-bank” politics has worked wonders for the Congress-led oligarchy in the State. It will therefore come as a huge relief when the Congress-led UPA is thrown out of power in two weeks time and the shackles are finally broken. We can hope to see a genuine effort to bring to book pressure groups, shady businessmen and crooked politicians who have taken this country for a ride. Common people are praying for the day law and order will return to Meghalaya. This can only happen when Congress is thrown out of power at the Centre.
Yours etc.,
R. Chandrashekhar
Ghaziabad,
Uttar Pradesh
