Editor,
The appointment of Mr Alphons Kannanthanam, the Union Minister of State for Tourism, as the saffron face, besides Mr Nalin Kohli, to ensure the success of BJP in the forthcoming elections to the Meghalaya State assembly is very flattering given that Alphons besides being an upright bureaucrat was also a philosophy alumnus at Christ King College at Laitumkhrah, Shillong in the early 1970s. In response to his party’s high command authorization, the Central Minister in question had recently landed in Shillong to get himself acclimatized to the latest political milieu of Meghalaya. Further, it was no less heart-warming to note that he met the religious communities in the City, especially those Christian leaders like Arch Bishop, Dominic Jala at Shillong Cathedral. What transpired in the meeting is not known. Incidentally, while being interviewed by the media, Mr. Alphons had heaped winsome accolades on PM Modi and the BJP led Govt at the Centre for its avowed aim of all round development and tolerance underlining Modi’s slogan: “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”. Hence, the Minister reiterated that the Christians of Meghalaya need have no fear on account of their religion, culture and dietary habits under the saffron regime.
Against the fore-going engaging assurances, I would put on record a pertinent question before the said minister as to what reply has our Hon’ble PM conveyed to the Christians of Jharkhand, a BJP ruled state, when their dreadful fears were communicated to the PM via a letter written by the Secretary general, Teodore Mascarenhas, of the Catholic Bishops Council of India (CBCI), the apex body of Roman Catholics in India. The content of this appeal letter to the PM were to curb the spread of pathological hatred orchestrated by Chief Minister Raghubar Das of Jharkhand following Ranchi Cardinal Telesphore Toppo’s effigy being burnt by the Hindutva fanatics known as Hindu Jagran Manch (HJM) early last month. The letter averred that there is an imminent and deepening fear among the Christians in the backdrop of religious-hate campaigns launched by HJM which could unleash physical violence and persecution of Christians. The letter to Modi has decidedly brought to the fore the Jharkhand Govt’s full front page advertisements that spewed full-throated barbs against the Christian minorities, reminiscent of Hitler’s Nazis propaganda against the Jews preceding World War II, which thundered slogans like : “Hate the Jews,” thereby marking a new low in a BJP ruled state against the Christian minority. And this Jharkhand syndrome may only be the tip of an ice-berg in India.
In this context, I would like to remind Mr. Alphons what he has done as Roman Catholic after occupying a coveted chair of a Union Minister, to ameliorate the persistent harassment of his Catholic brethren in Jharkhand and elsewhere in India where his saffron party wields the undisputed state powers? And it is no-nonsense paranoia to assert that Meghalaya too would have to undergo such unsavoury experience if BJP can manage to access power, directly or indirectly, by way of the outcome of the next assembly polls a few months hence. There is a sense of foreboding among the Christians in Meghalaya and mind you, this is not merely crying wolf. I hope some prospective Catholic candidates like J A Lyngdoh from 17-North Shillong (ST), 16-East Shillong (ST) likely of this Christian denomination and elsewhere in Meghalaya who are craving for BJP tickets are listening!
Yours etc.,
Jerome K. Diengdoh
Via email
Customer satisfaction our motto
Editor,
It is with sincere regret that we read about the customer angst from a letter in your newspaper captioned, “Whither Professionalism?” (ST Oct 16, 2917). We at Jawed Habib (Laitumkhrah) at Anderson Arcade had investigated if there was any wrongdoing that happened on Saturday Oct 14 last as reported but we are unable to figure out what we did wrong. There was not a single customer who left the Salon dissatisfied on that day as had been mentioned. If at all a customer feels she has been short changed then we request the person to walk up to the salon and give us your constructive feedback so that we can serve you better rather than complaining to a newspaper. This makes us suspect the authenticity of such complaints. It is against our professional ethics to make such gross errors as to apply any color not remotely close to a customers’ choice. In fact we have a palate sample where customers choose from and only after consent of the customer, do we use the color as agreed upon. In fact we even go the extra mile to inform all customers of the ill effects of using colors during pregnancy and we strictly say “No” to colouring the hair of a pregnant women.
Yous etc.,
Management,
Jawed Habib franchisee
Shillong -3.
Press freedom!
Editor,
Press freedom is now in great danger. The murder of three journalists namely Gouri Lankesh, Shantanu Bhowmik and KJ Singh (along with his mother) in different cities of our country one after another within a span of just 20 days, tells a very sad tale of the present status of press freedom. Already, India has slipped 3 places from 133rd in 2016 to 136th in this year in World Press Freedom Ranking Index which is released by the International Free Speech Advocate Reporters Without Borders. It will be a bad day for democracy if the press has to work under a reign of terror. Unfortunately, Gouri Lankesh’s killers who dared to kill her in front of her home, are still at large. We already have a long list of such murders – Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, Malleshappa Kalburgi, Jyotirmoy Dey and others. This underscores the need for speedy criminal justice delivery system for the survival of our democracy. We must remember that democracy cannot survive without a free press.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata