Editor,
Ever since Mr. H.S. Shylla (Jaintia by birth) assumed charge as CEM, KHADC the Khasi Lineage Bill has come to the limelight only to clear his previous sins of corruption and misadventures vis-à-vis uranium mining in Meghalaya. Technically, Shylla is not a Khasi but a Jaintia so how can he hold the post of CEM in KHADC which is meant for Khasis only. This is uncalled for. For Jaintias there is the JHADC for them to contest from and be elected. Mr PN Syiem please take note of this.
There was an agreement between the Hynniewtrep Youth Council Chief Robert June Kharjahrin who is himself a non Khasi (but became one by virtue of “tang jait;” hence the clan name Kharjahrin) and HS Shylla to win the sentiments of the indigenous community to make an issue of lineage and uranium. It is pertinent to mention how Mr. H.S. Shylla appointed Robert June Kharjahrin as his legal advisor when he heads an NGO. Does the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) have no objection to this? Why has HS Shylla come out of nowhere to become the messiah of the Jaidbynriew? He has taken crores of rupees from the Government of India for uranium mining and today he is going along with the NGOs to the site and declaring that the uranium mining chapter is closed. Khasi people cannot forget this chapter Mr Shylla. The uranium chapter cannot be closed. Rather a CBI enquiry must be initiated into the corruption indulged in by KHADC in the name of uranium and other projects.
Meanwhile Robert June Kharjahrin has been given the task of countering the pressure groups opposing the Lineage Bill. He is the mastermind in the making the new group “STIEH.” Purity Phawa is a member of “Magnessa International” which collects s money from the public and makes claims that the money will be doubled. Nini Kurbah is members of the HYC Women’s Wing and works in NEIGHRIMS as a contract employee at the reception. B.L. Nonglait is related to the late H.S. Lyngdoh. The above-mentioned ladies are entrusted to make this new group. Rupees five lakhs was allegedly given to Robert June Kharjahrin to push the agenda of HS Shylla. My parents are Khasi; my father is Lyngdoh and my mother is Rynjah. I worked as KSU member during Paul Lyngdoh’stenure as President. I also support the Lineage Bill but a more thorough study and consultation is required in this regard so that no confusion will prevail in the future.
Last but not the least, I advice Mr HS Shylla to conduct a DNA test of himself because his looks and appearance seems to be different from the indigenous tribals of Meghalaya.. I humbly request the KSU to not fall into the trap of HS Shylla and HYC which is a breakaway group of KSU. I personally fully support the Lineage Bill but only if its spirit and intent is clear. .
Yours etc.,
Lamkupar Rynjah
Ex-KSU Unit President
Shillong-2
A fishy affair!
Editor,
The other day, I visited some ponds located at Umsning, Ri Bhoi District and found that almost 200-300 kgs of fish were available in each pond. I was quite impressed that at least we are really on the road to self sufficiency in fish production. But to my utter dismay, when I again visited the same ponds the next morning, I was amazed that the same amount of fish were available when the previous morning the ponds were almost empty.
So, it happens only in Meghalaya where fish are grown overnight. Or one may conclude that there must be foul play where local Assam fish are thrown overnight into these ponds and in the morning the fish become local Meghalaya fish. If this is the case, then this masquerade was done deliberately with the connivance of both Assam and Meghalaya traders to avoid attraction of the ban imposed on all the imported fish from outside the State which includes Assam. Well this is an offence and the punishment for the same is seven years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs ten lakhs as per government order.
As such, one hopes that the Government of Meghalaya take notes of this trickery which tantamount to black marketing of fish while fish traders of Iewduh are left to rot and suffer. Will the Government machinery wake up to this crisis?
Yours etc.,
Helen Dkhar,
via email