Editor,
West Bengal Minister Madan Mitra has been arrested for the multi-crore rupee Saradha chit fund scam and is presently under CBI custody. Political heavyweights from Assam and Odisha are also being grilled by CBI in this connection. This makes the common person hopeful that our own corrupt politicians too will one day be brought to justice. The question remains – when will that day come in Meghalaya? Both Ampareen Lyngdoh and Deborah Marak are moving around without a care in the world despite being indicted by CBI and Police for their illegal activities. They are the “Untouchables of Meghalaya”, thanks to political patronage of party leaders. And mind you, these are small fish compared to some of our political heavyweights who have amassed astronomical sums and continue to enjoy the confidence of Sonia Gandhi. The entire political establishment in Meghalaya is rotten to the core. Every politician I can think of is has joined politics with the sole purpose of looting money. Public service is only an afterthought, or to be used in speeches before elections. Elections are won by cash handouts alone, door to door in Shillong (which exposes our own moral depravity and ideological void). The Modi Govt really needs to get after these political swindlers in the same manner that they are going after the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. Give the CBI a free hand to go after these politicians. Time to clean out this political garbage, starting at the very top!
Yours etc.,
Marcia Lyngdoh
Shillong -21
Bad traffic governance
Editor,
During the last ten days, especially in the evening, there has been an ever increasing number of coal trucks passing through the city. This unnatural phenomenon has been observed with growing uneasiness by many concerned citizens. Both loaded trucks to Guwahati and empty trucks from Guwahati are seen, once again, wending their merry way through the narrow streets of Shillong. It brings back bitter memories of the pre Bye Pass days when the whole city of Shillong used to be held hostage at the whims and mercies of uncouth coal truck drivers.
It now appears that the nightmare is back to haunt us. One cannot understand why the Ri Bhoi Police fail in their duty in diverting the returning coal trucks along the Bye Pass from Lad Umsaw. Once dusk falls, the convoy of empty coal trucks passing through Shillong, defies the logic of a traffic police force or of the existence of a Bye Pass. There’s more than meets the eye here.
Then there is also the increasing number of loaded trucks passing through Shillong on their way to Guwahati. Sheer numbers defeat the excuse that these are trucks from Sohra. A question arises- what’s the fun in allowing trucks through crowed city streets? Let me assure those concerned that none of us find it funny. As a matter of fact, it’s downright unnerving and socially unsettling. The Bye Pass was specially created to divert heavy traffic from Shillong city. I see no reason why this policy be shelved at the behest of the coal lobby. This letter is therefore an appeal to the authorities to restore Shillong’s sense of traffic well being and to the citizens to raise their voice against the injustice being perpetrated on them.
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah ,
President ICARE
Has media gone soft on CM?
Editor,
Brendalyne Sangma’s letter, “Why did the HM take the easy way out?” throws up unasked questions about the State Govt’s real intentions and capability to handle the militant-terrorist problems in the State. I sympathize with Roshan Warjri to an extent. One can hardly blame her for resigning in frustration when her boss the Chief Minister is cutting deals with extremist elements behind her back (ANVC, HNLC, etc) while she is trying to fight them on the ground. Mukul Sangma has effectively scuttled all hope of lasting peace and justice in Garo Hills by bribing and shaking hands with murderers! And true to type, he on behalf of the Congress Party now wants to “welcome” these thieves, murderers, rapists and extortionists into the Congress Party and use them as “hired muscle” and “proxy politicians” in state politics. It is strange that the media has gone all quiet about Mukul Sangma and his shady deals and non-performance all of a sudden. Is this because of the subtle warning that the Chief Minister handed out to media persons about Govt criticism not too long ago? Seems like we have developed collective amnesia about the tall promises of development by the Chief Minister. It is perhaps no coincidence that the legal suit against NGOs for violence and destruction of property has fallen under the radar. What deals have been struck with these parties for letting them get away (literally with murder), I wonder. All in all, Mukul Sangma has sold out the good people of the state by striking deals with killers for his own political gain. Will this letter get published despite being critical of both CM and media?
Yours etc.,
Kenny Marak,
Shillong -4