Editor,
Just who really is Vincent Pala? Who is the real man behind the mask? All we know of him is this. He is the MP from Shillong with a boring and uneventful political career until recently. We know that he became one of the richest men in the state in relatively short time, with declared assets of 49.71 crores (2014). We know he owns acres of prime real estate all over Shillong making him possibly the wealthiest landlord in the entire north-eastern region We know he owns more than a 100 coal mines, either directly or indirectly, and is the key sufferer and main opponent of the NGT mining ban. We know he has profited massively from child labour in his mines (documented proof exists), working in dangerous and inhuman conditions. We also know he owns transport fleets, car dealerships, commercial buildings in the state capital and prime real estate in the national capital and other metro cities (all undeclared). We know he has an unenviable track record in Parliament and has often been accused of sleeping on the job by his political opponents.
None of this would have been of much concern to us (except AMD poisoning and child labour) if it weren’t for the fact that Vincent Pala dared to do what no politician from the state has ever done before. He had the audacity to introduce not one, but two bills in Parliament purely for personal profit, with nothing more than the weakest attempt to disguise his avaricious intentions! His brazen shot at overturning the NGT ban did not yield the desired result since he was short on facts and long on fiction, thankfully for us. This is the first time that anyone has attempted such a con in Parliament. This brazenly insidious effort to be-fool an entire nation for personal profit has taken politics to a different level. It has now become imperative for the public to have complete access to the lives of politicians and their immediate families without exception. We must have unhindered access to financial portfolios and transactions of politicians, purchase and transfer of property and assets, business affiliations, partnerships, etc. This information must be easily accessible to common citizens through a web portal. We must set up an independent body and empower it to monitor and verify financial information furnished by public figures . Then and only then, will we be able to tackle political corruption in an effective manner. In the absence of income tax, there is no other way to combat serious corruption and oligarchy which has ruined this state. Unless we demand this information from people who represent us, the Palas of this world will continue to expand their fiefdoms and laugh all the way to the bank while we stare in envy and disbelief. Shall we allow this to happen?
Yours etc.,
Karen Nongbri
Shillong -6
Sold to the highest bidder
Editor,
From maintaining a sulky silence on the NGT ban for the past three months, the ultra-right wing HANM is going on the warpath citing “heavy economic losses” due to the ban. By doing this, they have finally revealed their true motive. It is so easy to “buy and sell” groups like HANM that even a child can predict the outcome of agitations these days. No doubt other “patriotic” groups like KSU, FKJGP and others will join them shortly for their pound of flesh. The coal mafia’s move to buy shady groups to launch agitations has been under open discussion ever since the ban came into effect. The only thing which was in any doubt was – when it would happen. So too will be Mukul Sangma’s eagerness to cave in to their demands since he has a personal interest. It is almost laughable the way the script is playing out! Just as the Congress-led UPA Govt was Mukesh Ambani’s “Dukan”, so too is our Govt a “Dukan” for every blackmailer who wants to try his luck. Everything is up for sale here – honour, dignity, culture, environment, nature, jobs, health and life. It is almost as if we are living in some lawless banana republic in some remote corner of the world. Neither the Indian Govt nor any other govt is interested in what goes on in this banana republic since it consists of retarded people who are best left to their own devices. The Govt is more than happy to fill our begging bowl as long as our Netas don’t bother them with internal issues. Meanwhile groups like HANM will continue to sell their services to the highest bidder and thrust their brand of patriotism down our pliable throats. In the end, people will suffer bandhs, agitations, vandalism, hooliganism and murders just to make these groups rich and nothing more!
Yours etc.,
James Kharpuri
Shillong -4