Editor,
Apropos the letter to editor (ST Jan 19, 2017), “BJP in Meghalaya”, the author’s observation about the said party is very well expressed. The BJP which speaks of being different from other parties is rather behaving in Meghalaya differently than what it speaks. The two surgical strikes on terror and black money by Modi Government are well appreciated by the people of the country as well as the people of Meghalaya. The Hon’ble Prime Minister has already said that his next target is on “BENAMI.” The present lot of leaders are mostly running benami petrol pumps, owning benami land, benami liquor shops etc., The treasurer of the state BJP unit is allegedly linked to such businesses. Will the Prime Minister ask the State President to remove such wrongdoers from the party before he strikes on others.
The author has rightly pointed out new politico-business group in the Meghalaya BJP not only lack vision but also happen to make politics their business. Most of them joined after the Modi tsunami hit the country and the BJP came to power in 2014, because some wanted to clear their pending bills for contract works in various Central Government departments. Others are pushing their resume for getting political appointments at the centre while some others are busy meeting higher- ups in the Central Government Department to get new avenues for themselves. Rumours have it that as most leaders are in the coal business they now have only one agenda and that is to pressurise the Central Government to urge the NGT to open up the coal mines. So how could we have any faith on such leaders who have no commitment towards the society?
Lastly I agree with the writer that if the BJP wants to make its presence felt in the next election then the urgent need is for another surgical strike on the State Unit of the BJP.
- Yours etc.,
- P Kharsati,
- Via email \
Legislators should read the POCSO Act
Editor,
When a person steals or commits any sort of crime he or she is pronounced a criminal even before the judgment is pronounced. This logic seems to apply differently in the Marvellene Inn case. It is unfortunate that the political class of this state has stooped to the lowest level. For the Chief Executive of the state and also the MPCC President to pronounce that Julius Dorphang is “innocent ” until proven guilty by law is an insult and a disgrace and a clever attempt to cover up Dorphang’s crime. The manner in which this case is being handled seems like the Congress Party does not want its lone supporting ally from Mawhati to spill the beans lest more skeletons tumble out. If the principle of equal justice and rule of law prevails then the politicians whose sympathies lie with Dorphang are no less than colluders in the crime of raping a minor. Hope good sense prevails before they embarrass themselves further.
Yours etc…
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong
Crass selling point of AMAZON
Editor,
Affluence often dispels the virtues of sensibility and empathy. Here is a pointer to the fact that many progressive multinational companies have now developed the habit of throwing their brute weight around. They deliberately manufacture merchandise that hurt the sensibilities of certain nations, societies, and the sentiments of some communities and their faith and practices.
A few days ago, our ailing External Affair Minister, Sushma Swaraj had to cry herself hoarse against the multinational online retail company Amazon. This Company in Canada had put up doormats for sale featuring the Indian flag. In the past, we have witnessed instances galore where Hindu gods and goddesses were intentionally humiliated and denigrated by featuring them in the household wares like — toilets fixtures, under garments, and so on.
And now the biggest shock is that a renowned gift retailer of USA — CafePress is selling slippers with Mahatma Gandhi’s picture. What surprises one is that all these outrageous acts have not been done by any insane brute but by educated and well-placed intellectuals. The owner of this billion-dollar company ‘CafePress’ is an Indian — Mahesh Jain! How does he dare to express his “pride” in the most derogatory way? Is it not heights of arrogance? Could he ever manufacture shoes or undergarments depicting the pictures of his parents and thus pay gratitude to them? Yes indeed, this is the result of modern education that virtually staggers under the weight of wayward consumerism and hedonism. This mindset is the product of rock-and-roll and funky modernity. People can no longer differentiate between right and wrong, good and bad. Oliver Goldsmith has rightly said — “Where wealth accumulates, men decay.”
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong-2
As Pure as Ganga but…
Editor,
The recent allegations of corruption made by the Congress VP, Rahul Gandhi against PM Narendra Modi has obviously provoked the BJP’s spokespersons to launch a blistering attack at the former and defending Mr. Modi by alluding that the latter’s piety is as pure as the waters of the holy river Ganga. This instant drawing of a parallel between Modi and the Ganga is, however watered down by the 2002 Gujarat communal riots when the incumbent Prime Minister was then the Chief Minister of that riot – hit state where hordes of the minority sections were mercilessly massacred in broad day light. Markedly, it is but pertinent to say that such incidents of riots is a law and order issue which is the onus of the concerned state government to effectively deal with and given that PM Modi was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he is arguably answerable for such a massive pogrom. PM Narendra Modi may claim to be a pure as river Ganga but all the perfumes of Arabia – a la Lady Macbeth of Shakespeare – can by no conceivable measure wash off the hands reeking of the blood of the victims who perished in 2002. Gujarat’s unprecedented riots had attracted world-wide attention. Little wonder then, one day or the other a conscientious and resourceful legal expertise/ luminary etc., may challenge PM Modi in a PIL over the said Gujarat turmoil!
Yours etc.,
Jerome K. Diengdoh
Shillong – 2