Editor,
The spiralling price of every essential commodity has already become a matter of serious concern. Again, the price hike of petrol and diesel has further fuelled the fire. Hike on cost of fuel always causes a cascading effect on the whole economy. What is worse is that it has virtually crippled all the lower income groups because it has pushed the prices of essential commodities still higher.
Regrettably, the rapid increases in fuel price have now only caught the present government on the wrong foot. This month already saw more than 15 increases. Is it not a windfall of opportunity for the opposition parties to run the ruling party down? The ruling party leaders should be brought to account. Are they not the same leaders who harped about the plight of the poor people and sought their votes and are now noticeably insensitive to their day-to-day woes due to galloping price rise of the essential commodities? This is the game of modern politics where the leaders are less sympathetic and more deceptive.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong-2
Whither Sports Department!
Editor,
It is utterly disgraceful on the part of the State Government that in spite of having a Sports Minister along with other officers to man such a mammoth organisation they seem to be twiddling their thumbs as to whether or not to support an aspiring youth to participate in the upcoming international kickboxing event in Russia. Though the kickboxing association is split into two groups due to certain issues, leaving these aside it is important that the State Olympic Association should mediate. This is not the first time that our budding sportspersons are left helpless and they feel let down. This is a very poor show for the State. What is more insulting to the State is that the participant had to avail a bank loan to sponsor his entire trip. This is a great shame for the Sports Department. If the Department says it has no funds to sponsor then what credibility does it have to host the National Games in 2022 ? It seems this Government is full of talk with no direction and the absence of a Sports Policy which we have been hearing off and on is more like an empty vessel making noise.
Yours etc…
Dominic S. Wankhar
Via email
Abolish institution of Governor
Editor,
Your editorial, “Dubious role of Governors” (ST, May 19, 2018) is right in pointing out ~ “Governors have for a long while been more loyal to the Party that appoints them than to the Constitution.” Indeed, the role of a Governor has touched the nadir. The Karnataka Governor had made the apex court work round the clock. His action of giving 15 – day window of opportunity to prove majority to a party that had fallen short of eight MLAs to get the majority mark, had drastically been modified by the Supreme Court and that helped rescue democracy from falling into possible quicksand of horse trading. The Governor’s selection of a pro-tem Speaker who had a tainted record as a Speaker was not in accordance with the best of democratic traditions either. It may be recalled that the Governor’s chosen man had disqualified eleven rebel BJP MLAs and five Independents, hours before the then chief minister Yeddyurappa was to face a floor test in October 2010 and that helped Yeddyurappa sail through.
It is highly unfortunate that the attorney general representing the Centre pleaded for secret ballot. The Supreme Court of India must also be congratulated for turning down such an unusual plea that would have helped bypass anti-defection law in this confidence motion.That the Karnataka Governor’s action could have given enough space for horse trading had been highlighted in a cartoon where it was seen that a man was engrossed in doing a sum of 15 ÷ (112 – 104) in front of Karnataka Raj Bhavan. Must our democracy touch such a low?
There should be an effective legal fence that will stop horse trading and floor crossing. Otherwise, there will be of little value to our voting right in such an environment that has made Transparency International bracket us among the worst offenders in terms of graft in their 2017 report. In this context, it would be pertinent to point out that India has further come down in the global corruption perception index from 79th position in 2016 to 81st in 2017.
Now, it is time either to abolish the institution of Governors or at least limit their powers with clear guidelines to restore the honour of Vidhan Sabhas.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
Correction:
The letter to the Editor captioned “Government Apathy At Its Worst (ST May 24, 2018) was written by Dr M. Wolflang of Shillong -14. The letter inadvertently went with her name withheld on request.
Editor