By Dr. Lakhan Kma
With elections to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly around the corner, I am not sure if we Meghalayans are clear enough about our expectations from the new government post-2018 election. As usual, in the run up to the election D-day, several politicians, particularly those who have no idea of formulating policies for the larger interest of the state for the last five to ten years, will turn into ‘banyas’ or merchants or what we call ‘nongkhaїi tiar’ trying to offer items such as dinner sets, other household items, tarpaulin sheets and tin sheets, blanket and sponsor picnics, etc. in order to buy our votes in the disguise of freebies as gifts on pre-decided auspicious occasions. Of course the big question is where we have become more mature than we were five or ten years ago. Who we choose as our leaders will perhaps, answer this question.
As the elections are nearing, each political party will be aggressive in projecting itself as the best bet in having the ability to bring development to the state of Meghalaya. Congress will carry a huge load of anti-incumbency of ten years and has seriously failed us as a state since 1972, since they were in power for most of this period. Because of this fact, it becomes more amusing when the Congress MP from the State complains of bad roads, bridges, etc. Adding to the amusement is the General Secretary of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee, daring the BJP to debate on coal ban, VAB, etc. Believing that they were given a deaf ear by the Centre, why did not the Congress leaders of the State take to the streets to garner public support to protest against specific central policies? Perhaps they have forgotten how to leave their comfort zones for good public causes. Indeed, BJP should happily accept the challenge and start the debate with the creation of new districts by the Congress-led government just before the last election which are now in limbo with most departments run on ad-hoc arrangements till date or the two medical colleges in Shillong and Tura which were also announced before the last elections with zero progress on both the projects except the cosmetic actions. These are some examples of the election gimmicks of the Congress party before the last election which BJP can cash in on. Anyway, people cannot be fooled for long and perhaps Congress party’s days to govern the State are limited now.
Coming back to the prospect of other parties, the regional parties too, have seriously lost their credibility to forge a reasonable path of development for the State. In their quest to outsmart each other, most of their energy has been wasted over the past five or ten years. Take the examples of KHADC, JHADC or GHADC. These councils have become the political theatres almost on a day-to-day basis to the extent that one is thoroughly confused as to who belongs to which party on any given day. Being outside the purview of Anti-Defection Law, these councils have created the most unstable institutions in the State where MDCs are found busy planning their political ambitions by hopping from one group to another rather than legislating and leading the State to meaningful development. Indeed, their action completely defeats the very purpose of the existence of the District Councils. I hope that these Councils are not waiting for the next jolt from the judiciary to legislate on keys social and environmental issues haunting us. Similarly, regional parties in the Assembly have also failed to expose the government on every front. Perhaps, the fear of ‘having been there’ or ‘will be there’ on the other side of the aisle restricts their action against the incumbent government.They have failed to protect the interests of Meghalayans. Coming to another national party-the BJP, appears promising but it should not get crushed under its own weight. The cascading effect of demonetization on economy resulting into fall in the projected GDP for the current fiscal year without any significant impact on curtailing black money,is a cause of concern for the BJP. Similarly, some of its policies have not brought noticeable changes in our well-being. Policies, particularly economic ones that create inconvenience to public require revisit even if they were formulated with the best of intentions. Additionally, some of the petty leaders/followers of BJP across the nation are only compounding its problems in poll-bound states like Meghalaya.
While BJP’s core sense of nationalism, which for me, gets translated to a strong sense of attachment and commitment to my motherland-India in general and Meghalaya in particular, is to be fully embraced, the unnecessary vigilantism on food habits or religious beliefs and rechristening the ancient or medieval mindsets is not in good taste. Personal choice of food habits or religious practices and historical facts should not be a point of contention or a matter of public discourse. What happened during the Chalukya, Gupta, Maurya, Khilji, Tuglaq, or Mughal dynasties, etc. and British rule are inseparable parts of our history which cannot be changed no matter how good or bad they were. We can only learn from history and put those lessons to good use.
Therefore, mature and genuine BJP followers of this great nation hailed the wisdom of the drafters of our Constitution led by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who never wanted India to be a ‘non-secular State’ keeping our historical and social background in consideration. Thanks to his team and then leadership, look where we are as a nation compared to Pakistan which chose to be an ‘Islamic State’ around the same time. In spite of all odds, we thrived well post-Independence because we were secular and should continue to be a secular country come what may.
Coming to the main issue of election in Meghalaya, the focus has to be on core issues and burning problems plaguing the State.This time it has to be ‘Meghalaya First’. We should welcome and embrace whoever comes out with a roadmap of development for the State, be it in infrastructure, education, health, environment, employment, fiscal status, etc. Remember folks, even to get a peon’s job, one has to go through rigorous written examination and interview, so how can we not be mindful about electing leaders who are going to decide what is best for us, the destiny of our children and grand-children, and the State of Meghalaya as a whole. Leaving aside all our personal considerations and affiliations, anyone-be it MDCs, MLAs, Ministers or Chief Minister, etc. whoever comes to seek our votes should be asked tow questions: a) Where is your ‘Progress Report’ of at least the last five years? b) Where is the concrete roadmap of development of the constituency and the State as a whole? Remember friends, we get what we deserve. This time put ‘Meghalaya First’ and see the outcome. Its better to try something new and promising than maintaining the status quo. At least we will not regret and have the opportunity to discard them as well if they turn out to be equally inefficient in bringing overall development of the State of Meghalaya in the next five years
(The writer teaches in NEHU, Shillong).