H.H.Mohrmen
I believe these two years are very critical for the people of the state particularly the Khasi-Pnar community. It is crucial because there is so much development insofar as our political and social system is concerned. First of all the NGT order which banned unscientific mining of coal, followed by the Rangbah Shnong issue which we are yet to come up with a solution to resolve the crisis, then the MUDA issue cropped up and finally like a bolt from the blue the Act which bars MLAs from being MDCs also. I think the only other turning point in the history of the Jaitbynriew to which we can compare the current situation was the hill state movement.
Let us start from the last issue on my list and that is the bill which debars a person from holding the dual posts of MLA and MDC. Once the Bill was passed in the August house things fell like a pack of cards. One after the other ‘ar-maloi’ representatives started to send their resignation letters to their respective ADCs. But what amused me about the development is that none of the ‘ar-maloi’ representatives opted to retain their membership in the Autonomous District Council. All of them chose to retain their membership in the Legislative Assembly; not the other way round. The question is why do they consider being a Meghalaya of the Legislative Assembly more important than being an MDC. Even the stand of the present CEM of KHADC is also questionable because he wants to keep both memberships in the ADC and the Assembly; which he cannot. The truth is he is yet to set his priorities right and hence he is unable to decide which membership is more important than the other. Otherwise he would have been able to choose by now.
PN Syiem should know that he has just one option and he has to be clear with himself and decide where his heart is. If his heart is in the Council then he should vacate his membership in the House; there is no other way. The public are not dumb. Everybody knows why most of the representatives are quick in deciding to quit their membership in the Autonomous District Council. Members chose to retain membership in the legislative assembly not because they love the jaitbynriew very much, but because in their books their order of priority is something else which is not the jaitbynriew. The jaitbynriew has become a convenient scapegoat in politics! It reminds me of the patriotic songs that we would sing as school students to kindle the flame of patriotism In Khasi it says:
“Ri Khasi; Ri Jaintia nga ieit eh ia pha/ Ka Ri kaba ieit uba rim uba jah/ Ki tymmen mynhyndai la ngam iohi shuh/ Jingkynmaw ia ki kan ym duh.
And the chorus says: Ri; Ri nga ieit eh thoin thoin la ka Ri, Ngin kiew shakhliar/Shaphrang ngin mih,
Umpohliew jingstad ngin ioh dih.”
With due apologies to the composer of the song, I would like to share with the readers of this esteemed newspaper my own rendition of the song which is of course inspired by the latest political development in the state. My own rendition goes like this:
“Ko Shuki; Ko Shuki nga ieit eh ia pha, Ka shuki ka nam; ka burom bad ka spah,Ki tymmen mynhyndai lada kin dang im ruh/ Iaka shuki te ngam long duh.
Then the refrain goes like this:
Shuki nga ieit eh tang iaka shuki/ Burom ngin beh/Ka spah ngin lum/Kat ka shuki te ym don shuh.”
With deference to the non-Khasi readers, the burden of the song (new rendition) is that for any politician what ultimately matters is not the people (jaitbynriew) but the chair or position they hold which gives them access to power and wealth. The latest political development in the state only repeats the same old lesson that we already know, that irrespective of their affiliations, politicians will only choose positions of power, status and money over everything else.
So all the drama with regards to the issue of Rangbah Shnong, MUDA building byelaws and others are but gimmicks be they from the roof of the jeep or a treetop or otherwise, they are all meant to make fools of us voters. A lay person who is bewildered with the development expects that they would choose the Council over the Assembly if they really are serious about the issue that the jaitbynriew is facing, but the chair is much dearer. In fact this a crucial time for the jaitbynriew! The need of the hour is such that we should have all the seasoned politicians in their respective Councils to lead the jaitbynriew from the predicament. But they chose the Assembly instead. Is there anything which is more important than the chair?
With regards to the MUDA issue, a lay person that I am, I also understand that the state is in immediately needs of building laws to ensure that buildings are safe for those who own the houses and live in them as well as for the neighbours around the building. We all read with heavy hearts the report of the unfortunate incident which caused the untimely death of two victims caused by a landslide in Shillong. The two precious lives could have been saved if we has building laws in place and if the laws are adhered to.
A visit to Iewduh and Police Bazar area is enough for anyone who wishes to see what happens in the absence of any building byelaws. Look the concrete buildings that are mushrooming in the area without any plan. There is not even enough space to separate one building from the other. Forget about space between buildings, there is not even proper drainage and space to walk; every inch of land is occupied because of the absence of any laws and regulations for construction of houses and shops in the area. We would also not have people building their houses on the banks of the rivers or streams if we had building laws in place. The predicament of Wahumkhrah is because of the absence of any building laws prohibiting people from constructing houses adjacent to the rivers. The state is in immediate need of building byelaws and it is immaterial which authority formulates and regulates these laws as long as we have safe and secure buildings and a pleasant environment around us.
We also need laws for new township development which will regulate development of new residential areas in cities, towns and even villages. New residential areas are coming up in the suburbs of the town and even in bigger villages, but there are no laws to regulate this development. Land owners sell land at their own whims and fancies and sometimes without making provisions for roads. And even if there is a provision for roads the size of the road is a single lane one fit only for one light vehicle to ply on. Look at the new residential areas that are coming up without any kind of planning in our towns and city. Are these the kind of residential areas we want to live in? The new housing areas that are coming up are crowded without any planning at all. Is this the kind of our neighbourhood we want?
The recent developments have also made people wonder which authority is in control of what subject in the state? Which are the subjects that are under the jurisdiction of the State and what are Council’s subjects? No wonder people are beginning to question even the relevance of the ADCs in the contemporary society. And the resignations of the seven MDCs from the membership of the Councils only confirms our doubts about the relevance of the ADCs. The resignations only confirm the fact that being an MLA is a greater priority than being MDC and that the Councils are less important when compared with the Legislative Assembly.
People also question the timing of the passing of the legislation barring MLAs from holding the office of the MDC, but that is just an excuse. That which is wrong has to be made right and the timing is irrelevant. What is important is the lesson we learn from the developments – that in the eyes of the politicians there is nothing more important than power, position and wealth. Jaitbynriew is just an excuse politicians use when they feel that their popularity suffers a beating.