Editor,
Rarely has there been a time when taking the bus was a joyride. Being groped & grinded on from the man behind are just two of the scarring & humiliating moments of my bus riding school days. I would prefer taking the taxi, but that is another issue in itself, what with many taxi drivers demanding a king’s ransom for a 15 minute drop. I’m twenty two years old now, and much has changed in the public transport scene…and it’s not all good. We’ve got, as usual, many awfully rude bus conductors who hold out on 5-rupee change for ‘lack of it’. But it wasn’t until recently that I realised the dudes have upped their game in that regard as my 15 year old sister was getting off of a bus and asked the conductor for her change, to which he sarcastically replied that she’d get it if she rides the same bus the next day. Pardon my language, but the guy is an ass who needs a couple of workshops on being nice. The second thing I’d like to point out is the capacity of passengers allowed on each bus. I don’t know when 50-60 became the new 32, but I’m pretty sure sardines in a can get packed better than humans in a Shillong bus. The last thing I want to address is safety. A few weeks ago, a drunk man was cussing as loud as humanly possible at the packed potatoes in the moving bus to make room for him, all while hanging from MY window bars at the side of the bus. It was insane, to say the least! And while we’re on the subject of insane passengers, the stampede that patiently (and not so patiently) wait for a bus in Motphran during the evening hours is the scariest situation I would never want to be in. Little kids, old grannies and grandpas get painfully pushed to the side while the younger lot rush in to get a seat. It’s so unreal, so crazy! I sincerely request the traffic police to step in before someone gets hurt or worse and for the bus conductors and us the passengers to step up as kinder & more sensible people.
Yours etc.,
- Thangkhiew,
Shillong-17
UDP-HSPDP duping people
Editor,
The Shillong Times and other media have highlighted about the pre-poll seat sharing pact between the two principal state parties, United Democratic Party (UDP) and Hill State Peoples’ Democratic Party (HSPDP). The latest agreed pact was that out of 36 assembly seats within Khasi and Jaintia Hills, the two parties will not contest against each other in 27 seats. Out of the 27 seats, UDP will contest in 17 seats and HSPDP in 10. The remaining 9 seats are left open for both parties to engage in friendly contests. This is a big sham and a farce. There is no such thing as a ‘friendly match’ or friendly contest in election. A contest is a contest. There are only election fixing contests, not friendly. On the other hand in the Garo Hills, the HSPDP has no stake at all as it has absolutely no base and it is left to the UDP to have a pre-poll understanding with Garo National Council (GNC).
Though majority of the people of Meghalaya are regional minded and would certainly like to see the regional parties coming to power in Meghalaya in 2018, yet due to the non-inclusion of all regional parties (nay state parties) like KHNAM and PDF into this pre-poll pact, the regional minded people in the state are frustrated. They see this alliance between the UDP and HSPDP as a pretension and a ploy to deceive common people. They also strongly suspect that this pact is nothing but a match fixing between the top brass of the UDP-HSPDP and the Congress. In fact, at present the combined strength of UDP-HSPDP is 12 MLAs. What they need is just another 19 more MLAs in 2018 to form a government. If they carry along the other state parties and have a sincere pre-poll understanding, they will easily get additional 20 MLAs which is enough to form a government in 2018, taking into account the strong anti-incumbency factor and other political discontentment that is brewing in the state.
But that is not to be as things stand today. In fact this political game of ‘friendly contest’ has been tested in the past at least in two occasions and it proved disastrous.
Immediately after the seat sharing pact which was announced recently, a lot of confusion has arisen. There is open rebellion in the party rank and file within these parties in nearly all constituencies. Some of the sitting MLAs of these parties and also prominent MLA aspirants are planning to contest from other parties or support other parties’ candidates. Again, prominent and ardent supporters of these two parties cannot see eye to eye with each other because of traditional political rivalry between them. If their parties’ candidates are not contesting, they would rather abstain from voting or vote for some other candidates not belonging to UDP or HSPDP. This pact will defeat the very purpose of the poll strategy. However, either ways, this may work in favour of the Congress or independents in many constituencies since NPP is yet to be properly rooted in K&J Hills and BJP is yet to find its base in rural constituencies and is active only in some urban areas.
In this climate of political uncertainty such as the one prevailing today in Meghalaya, the ultimate alternative is the BJP, but the party has no organisational units in rural areas and the BJP has no leader with a mass following. Nor can the BJP show up any good work it has done in the villages and towns of Meghalaya which can draw people to its fold. Instead there is only strong propaganda of anti cow slaughter and anti beef selling and eating, which the state BJP is unable to counter.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Via email
Do we deserve bad roads?
Editor,
I felt a chill down my spine when I read the news of how a woman biker was crushed to death after she fell off her motorcycle when it hit a pothole in Mumbai. We usually perceive bikers as being reckless and unmindful of other vehicles and people but here the issue is of a blatant display of lack of responsibility of our government and representatives. The five year term has always been for the good of the self first with public welfare coming last. This state of affairs is no different in our state as well. Apart from our roads being so narrow, there are potholes galore that make driving dangerous, risky and life threatening in almost every part of Shillong. A classic example is the approach road to the parking lot at Khlieh Iewduh. It’s just been a year since that particular stretch was repaired and today the road wears a dilapidated look filled with potholes so vehicles plying along this road screech endlessly. The road is used by people from all parts of the state for trade and commerce. I would like to remind all that the road is very important as it is the lifeline to Iewduh which is one of the biggest markets in the state. The condition of the road is such that one fears that precious lives may be lost any day should a goods laden truck/bus turn turtle in one of the potholes and collapses on pedestrians or the smaller vehicles parked along and plying through this road. What is sadder is that this road is not being used by the elite, government officials and higher echelons of the society therefore it is not being taken care of. However for the well-being of the common people of the state isn’t it the duty of the authorities concerned to have repaired the road well before the monsoons? The rain is only making it worse because at present the condition of the road is such that can only deteriorate further. I appeal to both the print and electronic media to take time and visit the road and bring its pathetic condition to light so that the government and concerned authorities wake up and do the needful. As a concerned individual, I hope I am not asking for too much!
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email
Kudos ladies in blue!
Editor,
This refers to the report, “Women in blue : An inspiration for the next generation” (ST, July 25, 2017). Hats off to Jhulan Goswami (10 – 3 – 23 – 3) and Punam Raut (86 runs) for their brilliant performances in the World Cup final. It was so near (191 for 3) yet so far (219 all out) for Mithali and her girls at Lord’s. Only 9 runs separated them from the World Cup! This World Cup is a turning point in women’s cricket in India as it has aroused tremendous interest among Indians. Now, India must start IPL for women’s cricket and stop using girls as cheerleaders only.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata