Editor,
As reported by the media, especially by your esteemed daily, I wish to express my utter disappointment, though belatedly, over the boycott of the four HSPDP MLAs of the presidential elections held on July 17 last. This is most unfortunate coming as it does from the honourable members. Though the right vote or not to vote is their prerogative but the right to franchise is their fundamental right, and to elect the president of India is a privilege given only to the members of the Legislative Assemblies and Parliament. I long for the day that this privilege is also extended to all eligible voters of India by amending the Constitution of India. The MLAs may not want to vote for the BJP candidate or the Congress candidate but they should have shown maturity in exercising their franchise and not waste their precious votes. After all there were only two candidates in the fray and there was no HSPDP presidential candidate in the reckoning. They should have set up their own candidate but they could not due to logistical, practical and technical qualification difficulties. They should have exercised their voting rights and could have chosen either of the two aspirants. But they did not, very sad indeed.
I understand that the four HSPDP legislators will be contesting the upcoming general elections to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly slated for early 2018. They will be striving to canvass for their candidature and will be urging and appealing passionately to voters in their respective constituencies to vote for them. What moral right do they have to do so if they themselves have shirked their responsibilities by not voting for the hallowed office of the country? What example are our legislators setting before us? Do they deserve our votes when they themselves do not vote? When they did not vote in the presidential elections on July 17, it means that their constituents had no hand at all in the election of the President of India because this is, after all, an indirect election! Away with your cheap politics of distancing yourself from the BJP and the Congress. For how long? And don’t teach people, for they understand politics more than you do!
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Via email
Animals in distress!
Editor,
With regard to the article Government officials and residents rescue dog (ST July 19,2017), it may be noted that it is the undersigned, a resident of Nongrim Hills who’s son, while playing, actually heard the dog crying and called me. The dog was injured and stuck in the drain. Residents were passing by looking at the creature in distress but sympathy is all they could give to help it. I tried to call all emergency numbers 100, 101 and 108 but all were not reachable. Somehow I got 108 but they refused to help stating that they can only send an ambulance (understandable). I got Laitumkhrah police beat house but all they could advice is “collect some people from the locality and pull it out”
I even called PETA’ s emergency number and got a lady with sympathy overloaded who said she would send me the numbers of concerned NGO’s and departments for which I’m still waiting.
Eventually I called The Shillong Times and it was with the help of the News Editor of the newspaper, Mr EM Jose who himself called and also gave me several numbers, amongst which was that of Mr Aldous Mawlong, IAS, Secretary, (Labour Deptt) and Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong. I called Mr Mawlong and it was he who initiated the whole process of calling the Municipal Board, Forest Department and Veterinary Department after which we could eventually rescue the dog.
I also appreciate the efforts of Aafaque Hussain, reporter, Shillong Times who came and tried his level best to rescue the dog until help arrived. I am really grateful to Mr Andrew Umdor from the Shillong Municipality who took the trouble to come to the rescue even though Nongrim Hills is not their jurisdiction and also Doctor Bateilang Wanswett from the Veterinary Department who came and saved the dog from the jaws of death.
I sincerely hope that the government takes this incident seriously and comes up with a Help Desk that people can call and ask for help in case they see an animal in distress so that they do not have to go through the rigmarole of calling the entire administration of Shillong to rescue such animals.
Yours etc.,
Vicky Vadera,
Via email
Who will address corruption?
Editor,
It is shocking indeed to read that a Centrally-funded agriculture scheme under Saipung Block of East Jaintia Hills District meant for our poor farmers, to the tune of Rs 15.15 crore was siphoned off to ghost beneficiaries. Your newspaper and another local vernacular paper had reported the same news which reflects how deep the scandal is if there is proper investigation. The block-level agriculture officer, who as alleged, was instrumental in this entire scam and others with him if implicated should be put behind bars. In fact this is not the first such scam to have happened under this Block. Anyone who travels between Sutnga towards Saipung can judge the condition of the road and the role that the PWD department plays along with its contractors. To assume that the sitting local MLA, Hopeful Bamon does not see all this happening and that he does not understands the plight of his constituents is a joke. Perhaps the Chief Vigilance Commissioner who is the Chief Secretary should take a ride to these places and see for himself the reality that happens around.
Yours etc…
Dominic S.Wankhar
Shillong-3