Editor,
The twelve hour bandh called by the proscribed HNLC on Feb 16 is not only for showing its dictatorial attitude for calling an unreasonable close down barely 36hrs before its commencement but it has exposed the narrow mindedness of its leaders from its warm and comfortable zone in Bangladesh. The excuse given for the bandh is to protest against the attack on Christians and ransacking their institutions and churches in India and also to pretest against the sufferings of the truckers meted out by the government of Meghalaya and the NGT etc.
As a son of the soil, how can I be fooled by the diktat of gun-toting marauders who have now called the bandh in protest against the attack on Christians in India? My memory is still fresh about the bitter pills that we had to swallow when the so-called militant outfit (riew ieit-ri) who now claim to be the protector of Christians today, had imposed a dawn to dusk bandh on the Christmas-eve of 2013 ? Didn’t they know that it is the main festival of Christians all over the world? How can we trust such double standards? You can
fool a person once but not all the time. On the other hand, how can we expect the group which is groomed and trained by the ISI of Pakistan and other mujahideens for its survival to protect other religions other than Islam? Let us not be carried away by such blatant misuse of Christian tags just to gain sympathy and be in the news. One should realize that HNLC is now a spent force. People should not cow down under the tactical pressure. Their extending support to truckers is also not genuine because it is in their self interest that the coal trade flourishes so they get their regular income. After all coal transport and mining is their only source of survival.
How can we expect the so-called “seng ieit ri” to favour the complete sell-out the mineral resources of Meghalaya? I urge upon the Government to rein-in these group of marauders with Bangladeshi counterparts like they did against the leaders of ULFA, NDFB and GNLA. Kudos to Government for not expediting the proposed negotiation with the banned outfit because they are just a bunch of thieves who enjoy sunshine and comfort in Bangladesh. Don’t deceive Christians for your survival !
Yours etc.,
Banshanlang Greg Mylliem
Shillong -8
Non-functional street lights
Editor,
Shillong the so called Scotland of the East is lagging far behind in terms of development. One crucial thing that strikes me the most are the non-functional street lights in this city which the SMB / concerned authorities don’t bother to repair for years together. If a survey is carried out in this city one would find that places like Barik, Lady Hydari Park, parts of Butcher road, Lady Veronica Lane etc., lie in almost complete darkness after sunset. Even our ministers here don’t bother to take steps to make this city look more beautiful. They simply make false promises before elections. Further the KSU and major NGO’s do not give importance to these problems. If such small issues are neglected then this city which is popular for its tourism would be affected, The state machinery should be held responsible for turning a blind eye to these issues.
Yours etc.,
Baptu Paul,
Via email
Defined role of DorbarShnong
Editor,
Apropos the news item, “KHADC CEM to seek stay on headman order” (ST 26thJanuary 2014) it was interesting
to note that the Government has referred back to the KHADC the Village Administration Bill 2014, for correction. The District Council was constituted in 1952 and it is strange how the system works in Meghalaya that even after 62 years the Council does not have in place a Village Administration Bill to which would have put in place a legalised code of conduct for all Rangbah Shnong of the Village Dorbar. The Government of Meghalaya too committed a blunder for 35
years that it went on to promote the institution of the Rangbah Shnong which does not have legislative sanction, thereby throwing the rule of law to the winds. However it is not too late to have in place a law to regulate the functioning of the
Dorbar Shnong. It is not known what the Government has asked the Council to correct in the Bill but what is important is that before the Bill becomes a law, the KHADC in the interests of the true spirit of democracy should revisit Section 4(a),
5, 8, 9 and 13 of the KHADC (Village Administration) Bill 2014 which the State Government had returned to the
KHADC on Friday 23rd January 2014 and ensure that:
- It accommodates the tribes (Karbis, Lalungs, Rabhas) who are recognised as ST in Meghalaya under the Constitution of India as they too have their own traditional village institutions.
- Traditional Chiefs and District Councils cannot issue any certificate or trading license without an NOC from the Dorbar Shnong and that the submission of Annual and Periodic Report and Audited Statement of Accounts by AG should be submitted to the appropriate authority of the Government of India who sanctions the funds for development
works and not to those who do not sanction such funds.
- That the Dorbar Shnong conducts their own election without the intervention of the Raid or Hima. 4. The consent of the Dorbar Shnong should suffice in matters relating to a contract with an outside agency and issue of NOC rather than involving the Chief of the Elaka and the District Council.
- That the Village Council is constituted by the people themselves.
Yours etc.,
VK Lyngdoh,
Via email