Editor,
The last election campaign to the 5 states of India, especially UP, which was single-handedly spearheaded by PM Modi has, alas, unfolded the hitherto hidden temperament of the latter as being out-and-out a khaki-clad Swayam Sevak or a die-hard RSS ideologue. This proposition was buttressed by the fact that in his blitzkrieg poll campaigns in UP he has not uttered his much-vaunted development agenda as heard in 2014 Lok Sabha polls; instead, he has conversely brought to the fore the direct antithesis of political ethics by raising the question of distribution of land for kabristan and shamshan, the supply of electricity during Eid and Holi, spreading communal flare ups from Muzaffarnagar riots, the Kairana exodus and such other unwieldy charges which were proved to be unfounded or mere make-believe ploys for the sake of triggering a division in social milieu with ulterior motives to capture cheap votes.
PM Modi was cynically aware that in UP, Hindus form a massive chunk of population and could not care less for Muslims who form only 18% of the same. Consequently, to decisively exploit the Hindutva sentiments he has strategically planned to conjure up parochial religious views thereby turning the incredible waves in BJP’s favour. And consequent upon being made UP, CM Yogi Adityanath, a Hindu priest, has launched blistering campaigns against both the legal and illegal meat enterprises mostly managed by Muslims and Dalits, throwing people by the thousands out of gainful employment; some reduced to bitter tears. This is without an iota of doubt an act of political vendetta given that BJP could muster only 2% of Muslim votes in the last assembly elections. Thus Modi’s concept of Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas has proved hollow and transpired to be no more than a political gimmick. No wonder, a party/Govt. founded on hatred shall never last long!
Yours etc.,
Jerome K. Diengdoh
Shillong – 2
Assam-Meghalaya border talks an eyewash!
Editor,
The result of the border talks between Meghalaya and Assam on April 1, 2017 was a foregone conclusion. In fact, the people of Meghalaya already knew the results before hand, even before the team from Meghalaya left for Guwahati. In fact many described it as mere pretension and an eyewash. The only positive result of the talk was to continue talking to each other (only God knows for how long more) on how to settle the twelve areas of differences in the borders between the two states. The areas concerned lie as far as between Langpih, in West Khasi Hills, and Block-II in Ratacherra in the far eastern side of East Jaintia Hills.
It may be recalled that the North Eastern Areas Re-organisation Act, 1971, did mention the boundaries of Meghalaya when carved out of Assam but proper demarcation before Meghalaya state was accepted and inaugurated was not done. Hence, Meghalaya was born without proper physical determination of its boundaries or any clear demarcating of such boundaries with standing pillars or some sort of concrete markings on the ground. Hence a lot was left hazy and ambiguous on the ground, thereby leaving scope for manipulation by either side; in this case, by Assam. And why should Assam care for Meghalaya if it did not take precautions right from day one before accepting Statehood? And now Meghalaya cries foul?
Again, since 1972-73 till date countless numbers of bi-lateral talks between the two states have taken place, at the Chief Ministerial and other levels but till date, there is no solution. The main reason for this is that there is no sincere effort made by both sides for delving into serious issues in order to arrive at solution. Moreover, there were times when successive governments of Meghalaya under the leadership of various Chief Ministers did not keep up the momentum by applying pressure to their counterpart to arrive at a lasting solution on border settlement. Even the present government does not care to keep the momentum going. In fact it was at a lapse of almost seven years that Dr. Mukul Sangma is pursuing the border issue with Assam. Assam cares a fig for Meghalaya and if the issue is allowed to drag on, more benefits are derived by Assam in its expansionist designs. Assam needs more land to rehabilitate its illegal immigrants from across the borders and we all know who these people are. Yes, Assam needs more land to give to its explosive population and the only way to relieve the tension is to encroach into Meghalaya’s new territories. Why should it return to Meghalaya the areas already under its physical occupation?. Meghalaya ought to understand clearly that Assam is not interested at all to settle the border issue with Meghalaya. What is Meghalaya to Assam? It has many border disputes to settle with Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland too. And Meghalaya is not a priority!
What Meghalaya ought to do is to strongly fortify the areas that are already under its physical occupation by all types of mechanisms lest they too be swallowed up by Assam.
It was resolved at the last (Saturday) bi-lateral meeting at Brahmaputra Guest House that the next border talks will be held in Shillong without fixing the date and we all anticipate that the result will be no different, considering that there is no sincerity from both sides. As for the Government of Meghalaya, the border talks held last Saturday was because the issue was flagged in the Assembly during the recent Budget session by the Opposition especially by K.P Pangniang MLA from Rambrai-Jyrngam and his colleagues in the HSPDP, and also to show to the people that something is being done on the border issue with Assam in the run up to the 2018 general elections.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marweñ,
Shillong-2.
Food prejudices
Editor,
A nutritious and hearty mid-day meal can check dropout rate as well as malnutrition among our children. Word has it that eggs are being banished from the menu of schools and anganwadis in many states across the country to satisfy upper caste vegetarian lobbies. Given India is home to 40 million malnourished children with stunted growth, this showcases our myopic and callous attitude towards our own children. Eggs are highly nutritious. Further, milk and sweets can be adulterated, contaminated but a boiled egg is 100 per cent safe when it is served with its shell. Moreover, an astronomical amount of eggs go bad every year in India due to lack of cold storage. Government should see to it that no prejudice can deprive young ones from getting such a safe and nutritious food item. It will be suicidal if we fail our children for the sake of prejudices.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata