Editor,
After reading the letter, “The picture as we see it- @KHADC” (ST April 10, 2015) I feel that at the moment, we have a hung house and the question that arises in our minds is, “What do we get when we cast our votes?” We have seen a complete season of power hungry politicians who seem to have forgotten all important issues regarding the crisis being faced by the people of the Khasi tribe who voted them to office. Let us be clear here that we do not want any profit by casting our votes. However, please be known that we do not want to be at a loss either. Why do we suffer for the personal games that you play in the KHADC? Or is it that your personal interests are more important than ours now? The crisis that the Khasi tribe is experiencing is huge, one such example being the court’s ruling to strip off the powers of the Rangbah Shnong to issue NOCs. Can you look into matters that concern the masses rather than being selfish?
Further commenting on the happenings in the KHADC, it is rather interesting that we have seen dual law makers having a major impact on the current scenario. Why do we feel justice is not being done to the efforts we made to place you there? It is very interesting that we have had a few dual law makers who have religiously been absent from the Council sessions but positively present when there is a need for a head count (majority) pertaining to any issue. Is that not obvious that we made an error electing you to dual leadership? You create chaos and instability since you have a back-up, which is really not accepted.
There was much ado over the decision of the two leaders who had earlier left the ruling alliance and pledged loyalty to the opposition , and in what can be called an unexpected turn of events we witness their physical presence at the Governor’s office to switch sides and announce complete support to the ruling ARPA. The effort of the State Government to bring about stability in the Council by demanding an “Administrative Rule” is praise-worthy. However, at the moment since we have the two leaders back with the ARPA- it becomes an easy task to have things back on track and decide continuation of the term under the leadership that was agreed upon last November.
All disagreements and arguments will come to an end based on the Governor’s decision with regards to the proposed Administrative Rule and the Special Session for change in leadership at the Council. What is interesting here is that we can see that the newly appointed Governor has not made a call in haste. Prior to delivering his decision on a matter that is relatively new to him, the State Head is taking his time to study, analyse and to come to a conclusion that will definitely favour the general masses. We appreciate the Governor taking things and analysing them with all the wisdom and the experience that he has garnered during his years of service to the country.
The Governor understands here that agreeing to the demands of the state government means he paves a way for the general masses to let out their disappointment over the decision in various forms while awarding a special session for a change in leadership may definitely offend a few of the members from the ruling state government. With the resignation letter of the existing CEM Mr Adelbert Nongrum, still lying unapproved at the Governor’s office, wouldn’t it be appropriate if the resignation is rejected so as to stabilize the scenario at the Council? If the Governor takes this as an opportunity to control the situation, we can be assured that the House will resume and things gradually take shape. I strongly believe that the solution lies not in picking up a new leader every quarter end. The ARPA has to rather get their act in place and extend unending support to the current leader in toto. Let this term not be unceremoniously terminated due to selfish motives and paint a new name on the board in the CEM’s room. If the ARPA insists on change in leadership, we will soon be of the opinion that every MDC representing regional parties should resign owning moral responsibility for the instability and inconvenience being caused to the people of the indigenous Khasi tribe. Everybody deserves a second chance, so we expect you to lead by example and practice it at the Council too. We do not want instability nor do we not want personal grudges surfacing up and being tackled in a public governing body.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request