Editor,
There is no more bizarre suggestion that the one given by NCP leader and South Shillong legislator Sanbor Shullai that no party should put up any candidate in Nongstoin by election as a mark of respect for 11 time legislator and late HSPDP leader Hoping Stone Lyngdoh. According to Shullai any relative of Lyngdoh should get elected unopposed. This is extremely unhealthy for democracy and no one should pay heed to his most strange concept of paying tribute to deceased person.
When Clifford R. Marak, the founder of Garo National Council (GNC) and legislator from Chokpot, passed away there was a similar suggestion but all parties contested the by-polls against the wife of the deceased MLA. Shullai’s suggestion is dangerous as sympathy can extend to jobs, to offices, to positions and to other areas. The government has already done away with ‘compassionate’ appointments because it is an injustice to meritorious candidates. Why does the NCP leader want to go back to the outdated practice? Compassion should not be mixed up with merit. Human feelings should not come to play while dealing with such an esteemed issue as constitutional and democratic elections. Let all parties and independent candidates contest the Nongstoin by-poll and the deserved winner continue the legacy of honesty of bah Hoping Stone rather than just hand over the seat to a relative. That would be a disgrace rather than an honour. If I were to be a relative of the late leader I would not want such an eventuality. Elected unopposed! Oh no!
Yours etc.,
Albert Thyrniang
Tura, West Garo Hills – 2
Has Sanbor Shullai lost it?
Editor,
Most of our legislators don’t speak at all. Some speak out of turn and when they do they do a disservice to democracy by suggesting that a legislator who dies in harness should be succeeded by a close relative instead of by election. The legislature is a not a Syiemship to be inherited by the next of kin. Election to the legislature is to be guided by constitutional norms and if a sitting legislator does not know this basic principle of democracy it is shameful that he has been elected to represent an urban constituency of Shillong. That in this day and age people should try to promote and perpetuate dynastic politics is abominable. Large sections of the voters of this country are against the Congress Party for promoting family politics. Sadly this has also entered Meghalaya. We have the Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and his wife and brother in politics. Now his sister-in-law is an MDC. Then we have PA Sangma of the NPP crowning his son Conrad Sangma (who did not contest the GHADC election but has been nominated) as the Chief Executive Members (CEM). Next we have two brothers Ngaitlang Dhar and Sniawbhalang Dhar as MLAs and the latter as Minister. This is atrocious and the people of Meghalaya should not allow this sort of family domination to continue. In fact politics has become like a family business for many in Meghalaya. This has got to end! People like Sanbor Shullai reflect the mentality of those who have elected him!
Yours etc.,
SL Syiem,
Via email
Kudos Loreto Convent !.
Editor,
The junior musical concert ‘Reminisce’ was simply amazing. The wonderful showcase of songs and dance of yesteryears displayed by the little girls of Loreto mesmerized the audience specially parents like me, whose eyes gleamed with joy to see their little girls all pretty and confident and so full of energy looking more like pop stars on stage. From the timeless classic rock and roll tunes like ‘Crocodile rock’, ‘Common lets twist again’ to the foot tapping disco fever like Boney M’s ‘Daddy Cool’,and the ABBA generation and then adding a final touch to the show was the beautiful tribute to Micheal Jackson, the king of pop with his ‘Heal the World’. We were speechless and the little hearts certainly won all of our hearts. We congratulate the entire Loreto family for bringing out the best in our child with strong ideals of faith, purity and wisdom.
Yours etc.,
Rekha M Shangpliang,
Via email
Poor service at Shillong GPO!
Editor,
I went to Shillong G.P.O on October 5th and 6th to withdraw some money and I had to stand in a long queue. When I inquired, I saw that there were only two Savings counter since the counter clerk in the third counter was on leave so I waited for my turn which did take a lot of time and got my work done. The next day I had to visit the GPO again since I wanted to meet the manager or A.P.M and to my surprise even the A.P.M was on leave and the branch was running without any manager. I couldn’t even get my passbook updated since I was told there was no link. This really disappointed me a lot and I wonder what the higher authorities are doing or if there is any higher authority at all? Who manages the work of the staff? Are they even managed? I agree that Shillong G.P.O is now under CBS which is a good thing for us the public, but I feel the management should look at how to serve the public in minimal time and not harass us. If one staff is on leave, there should be other staff to take on the work. Customers should not suffer because of the staff who is on leave. The management should bring in more trained staff since it has taken the step to go for CBS, and most importantly make sure that since they have adopted the new system. There should not be any” link failure” problem which seems to happen very often in Shillong G.P.O, and provide us better service.
Yours etc.,
S. Bhattacharjee
Shillong-3