Editor,
I have been following the news about the Sweeper Line imbroglio since it started on May 31. What is puzzling is the stance of the Syiem of Hima Mylliem. How on earth is it possible to sell away tribal land to a non-tribal entity/person? How does the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act work here? If the land was gifted on humanitarian grounds then that should be registered as a Gift Deed. How did the Syiem of Mylliem give a Patta or several Pattas to the Punjabi Community residing in Sweeper Line? A Patta is usually given when there is outright sale of land. A lease deed is not the same as a sale deed. Was that land given in exchange for money? And what is the role of the Khasi Hills District Council here? Is the Council not supposed to protect the rights of indigenous people over their lands, rivers and forests? Is the District Council aware of the land transaction between the Syiem of Hima Mylliem and the Punjabi Community? If not how could the transaction have taken place? Which other land has the Mylliem Syiemship parcelled off without the knowledge of the KHADC?
As tribals I feel we have been duped by all these institutions that claim to be the flag bearers of tradition and the protectors of the jaidbynriew. In fact the jaidbynriew is the single biggest scapegoat that is repeatedly used by everyone with political ambitions. But we continue to fall for this bait because we are all the time looking for someone to protect us. It is time now to protect ourselves and arm ourselves with knowledge of the law or to use legal mechanisms to unearth all the murky goings-on in the Mylliem Syiemship and also in the KHADC. It is very disappointing to note that the Syiem Of Mylliem has legitimised something that is in the realm of if illegitimacy because the residents of Sweeper Line have added more structures to the residential quarters which include commercial complexes. Who granted permission for this? Who gave the trading licenses to run these shops? Fabian Lyngdoh has correctly observed that we are a confused people living within two sets of divergent laws. It’s time to streamline things and bring the institution of Syiemship into account. So too the KHADC! On my part I feel that the District Councils are completely redundant. These institutions are mere fig leaves of an exploitative tradition.
Yours etc.,
AS Kharkongor,
Via email
Consuming poison in the garb of fish
Editor,
There have been reports from many states that the dead fish being sold in the market contain chemicals like formalin and ammonia which are being used as preservatives especially the fish imported from Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and W.Bengal. Chemical experts have stated that both these chemicals have carcinogenic properties i,e. they can cause cancer on prolonged use. It will be therefore,
mandatory on the part of the Government to instruct the drug/food inspection authorities to do random checking
of the fish markets here in Shillong so as to ensure that the fish sold here are free from contamination of such chemicals
Yours etc,
Dr M M Sam,
Via email
India still the most tolerant nation
Editor,
Apropos the letter, “Minority communalism” by Samares Bandyopadhyay (ST, June 23, 2018), I must congratulate him for his bold and straightforward writing as my views vis-a-vis the present sorry state of affairs in our country are strikingly similar to his. This is India and fortunately or unfortunately every citizen has the right to freedom expression but unscrupulous people take advantage of that right and even go scot-free. This amply proves that India, unlike most of our neighbouring countries, is still very tolerant and lenient to the core. Can one imagine the consequence of such an irresponsible and religiously insulting comments targeting certain community in countries like Pakistan or Bangladesh? And about the pseudo-secular writers, the less said the better. Actually, in my opinion, the Government should vigorously scrutinize the sources of income of such people and the size of the assets they individually possess, both immovable as well as movable, in and outside the country, as this would reveal whether their cry for ‘secularism’ is genuine or driven by external forces.
Partha Sarathi Gupta,
Via email