Editor,
Finally the state of Meghalaya has formally inaugurated their newly-constructed Russell Street Meghalaya House in Kolkata on 12th January 2015 amidst much vaunted publicity and lavish spending with a gala dinner spread and entertainment programmes. The people of Meghalaya unfortunately do not have the liberty, privilege, access (call it what you will) to ever experience a transit stay in this posh address in the heart of Kolkata city. The news report has stated, “The asset will help the people of the State to connect with the people of West Bengal, of the country and rest of the world”. This statement is a mere illusion to the public as only VIPs, elected and employed to represent the people, are entitled to this exclusive Circuit House. The Meghalaya House on the outskirts of the city will be the transit home for simple folks not labeled VIPs and this makes sense as only VIPs are the privileged lot to enjoy the next-door Park Street entertainment hot spot and the shopping center of the city. The poor voters will have to make do with additional costs, time, and efforts to commute to the city from their far and away Circuit House on the city’s outskirts.
Yours etc.,
Lewis Sooting,
Via email
Evil in the Land
Editor,
“Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place…” These words came to Jeremiah from the LORD (Jeremiah 7:3) If we truly amend our ways and our deeds, if we truly execute justice one with another, if we do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place (Garo Hills), then our Heavenly Father will let us dwell in this place, in the land that He gave of old to our fathers forever. Trusting in sophisticated weapons and evil desires to loot others is meaningless. Shall we steal, murder, and then come and stand before God in His house and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations? Has this ‘A.chik A.song’, which is given to us by our Heavenly Father and our forefathers brought here many years ago, become a den of robbers, murderers and extortionists? Everyone knows what’s going on here. As for all the peace-loving and God-fearing people of Garo Hills, for how long will we pray for these people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them? Our Heavenly Father may not like us to intercede with Him for these people, for ‘Jesus is the Prince of Peace’ not of Violence and will not hear if they go astray. Everyone sees what the militants are doing in the towns and villages of Garo Hills. The children can no longer enjoy their childhood, everyone has to be indoors as soon as the sun sets. The economic condition of the people is deteriorating. Most of the traders don’t dare come to Garo Hills because no one can guarantee their safety. Working men and women cannot go to their working places freely. Some offices are almost shut down thereby crippling the livelihoods of the poor people. Just before Christmas, some of the families who have good houses or vehicles or are holding a job received extortion notes from militant groups. I wonder how these looters celebrated the birthday of Jesus Christ who came to this earth to save us from sins, not to encourage the wicked ways.
From the day that our forefathers like Ramke and Omed came to know Christ and ventured into the Garo Hills with the Gospel of Christ, God had persistently sent His servants like David Scott, Dr. Miles Bronson, Capt Francis Jenkins, Dr. and Mrs. Issachar Jay Stoddard, Rev. Rupret Bion, Dr and Mrs T J Keith, P. K. Ghayan, Nagen Diengdoh and others with a vision to save us from barbarism. Yet these Garo outfits and their petty followers continue to wreak violence. We Garos grieve for own people. Where are the leaders who can understand all this and speak up? Who will listen to the cries and agonies of common people like us? Why is Garo Hills ruined and laid waste like a wilderness, so that no one passes through?
Yours etc…
Betty K Marak,
Via email
STP running scared of taxi mafia!
Editor,
Shillong Traffic Police has been strangely silent on multiple complaints against local taxis. These complaints range from overcharging and overloading of passengers to rash driving, wrong signalling, illegal parking, traffic jams, misbehaviour,
fleecing tourists, abduction and even rape. They have become a law unto themselves and ply only on their own terms at huge cost to everyone else. STP seems to be running scared of the Taxi Mafia because the cops refuse to act despite hundreds of complaints against taxi drivers from the public.The citizens of Shillong have been kept at the mercy
of these goons due to the inaction, inefficiency and outright collusion of traffic policemen with taxi drivers. Why? Who has ordered STP not to take action against taxi driving criminals? Is there a politician behind it or are the cops collecting
protection money from local taxis which places them above the law? The law continues to sleep soundly while criminals rule the roads of Shillong. Time to wake up and do your job, Mr S.P! And yes there was a time when the District Administration took stringent action against errant taxi drivers. Now there is complete lawlessness in the streets!
Yours etc.,
Frankie Nengminza
Shillong -4
Great job by STP
Editor,
Through your esteemed daily newspaper i would like to take the opportunity to thank the Shillong Traffic Police for deploying their personnel to each junction of the city which link to the main roads. This has led to fewer traffic jams during the peak hours. What a great example set by the Shillong Traffic Police to start the new year.
Yours etc.,
Manpura Lyndem,
Via email