Editor,
Apropos the letter to the editor (ST March 23, 2017) by one Ridalyn Swer which ranted against the BJP in Meghalaya without evidence, it is clear that the writer, notwithstanding, her best efforts in pushing her personal views in the public domain in the garb an erudite reader and apolitical observer, has glaringly failed to do so. On the contrary, she has unmasked her role as the spokesperson of some identifiable political opportunists who are now restless about finding greener and brighter political pastures which indisputably is the BJP. After the resounding victory of the Party in the recently concluded Assembly elections and its increasing acceptance in the North-East, obviously at the cost of parties now in power only in few States in the region, not to talk about the country, the attrition from those parties is about to begin.
To start with the author’s assertion that the Party should clarify, “whether or not the concerned authors are party members,” is self contradictory as in the preceding line she claims that she is, “not a BJP member but apolitical observer.” Hence, the question of clarifying whether such people are party members or not does not arise at all and so also the succeeding observations therein. One cannot but appreciate the fabricating skill of the author who appears to be privy to all (imaginary) developments in the Meghalaya BJP. Can the author furnish a single evidence as to who has sacrificed the interests of the Party for the sake of business or who those Jaintia Hills MLAs are who could not join the Party in the face of heavy financial demands ? As the allegations made are serious in nature and with the ulterior motive of defaming not only members of the BJP in Meghalaya but to subvert the prospects of the Party in the forthcoming elections, the author has to produce incontrovertible evidence or face a lawsuit. The fact is that the author ought to have enlightened herself before indulging in such defamatory statements. What is also evident is the author’s symbiotic connection with those parties which have made crass business in the name of governance in the last 40 odd years in the State.
One really does not need more evidence to understand who the writer is and her affiliation in the comment on the “white top and maroon skirt,” which somehow connects with the chant of a particular party, “Suit boot ki Sarkar,” thus amply demonstrating her partisan political preference and the reason for her rants against the BJP. The compulsion of the author is further evident from the fact that she desires the resignation of the present State Office bearers of the BJP so that her vested agenda could be facilitated. The writer forgets that BJP is a cadre- based and committed party which has withstood many a storm in the past in order to come up to its present position. So, a drizzle here and there would not wash any party.
Some vested political groups are repeatedly trying to condemn BJP’s activities. Their intent is to get personal political mileage and in turn mislead the people of Meghalaya. The fact that cow slaughter in Uttar Pradesh is banned has now become a whispering campaign here that that BJP in Meghalaya will also be doing the same. But, this is not the truth! The cow slaughter ban in Uttar Pradesh is only for the unhygienic and illegal ones. These vested political groups spread such news in order to save their own political cohorts thereby hampering the future of the state and the nation as a whole which will obviously be bright and prosperous when BJP comes in power.
The people of Meghalaya should not give credence to such misleading news and letters. Nor should they feel insecure about BJP. They should come forward to transform, energise and clean India. BJP is for “sab ke saat sab ki vikas”.
Yours etc.,
David Kharsati
General Secretary
BJP Meghalaya
Pay hike of legislators
Editor,
The 15 day budget session may not have been so fruitful for the state and its people going by past records of our government, but it certainly was for our legislators. Our legislators do have a reason to smile. One wishes that instead of a hike in their salaries and allowances, the huge amount can be used for the uplift of the deserving people of the state. One glaring example and a much needed one priority is the payment of the Upper Primary Deficit School Teachers’ salaries on a regular basis. It is an open secret that these teachers seldom get their salaries regularly. One wonders if our legislators really deserve a salary hike for lack of performance or more correctly non- performance.
How many of the promises made by them, especially at the time of election campaigns were realised? How many projects have been completed? What development work have they targeted to execute during their five-year tenure? What about pathetic roads, poor education, poor health care especially in the villages? What about the Engineering and Medical colleges? What about failed projects like the Traffic Signal Lights and the stagnant projects like the Hotel Crowborough and the other 5 Star Hotel? The list is never ending. Oh yes and what about the Assembly Building? Of course as usual, it was discussed in the House but dare we hope that this time round, the Government would be really serious about building it and completing it within a definite time line? Only time will tell.
Therefore, as had been the case with previous governments, this government too will end up as a NON PERFORMING one. The only thing that has changed for sure was the hike in our legislators’ salaries and allowances. Hence the caption “Meghalaya MLAs gift themselves hike” is the bright side of the budget as far as our legislators are concerned while it is still dim, gloomy and hopeless for the state and its people. So our legislators can make merry and have fun. Happy spending sirs and madams!
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email