By H H Mohrmen
The National People’s Party (NPP) led coalition government had had a smooth ride for six months since its installation last spring. But not surprisingly, no sooner did the government cross the half year mark than contradictions began to emerge one after the other in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government. Some of the contradictions were created by the members of the NPP and others are of the coalition partner’s making. Nevertheless it created confusion in the minds of the people.
The first issue is the much talked about KHADC lineage bill. It is not clear if the NPP as a party supports the move made by the Executive Committee of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council which is also led by the NPP. The recalled bill had created a great deal of confusion so the question is whether the NPP can simply wash its hands off the issue when the Chief Executive Member also belongs to the same party. It is indeed amazing that in spite of the fact that the bill has created so much commotion, the party is yet to make its stand clear on the issue. Till date the public are in the dark as to whether the NPP supports or rejects the Bill.
Then the surprise outcome of the Bill are the weird statements made by the CEM KHADC HS Shylla who blamed the truck drivers and the migrant labourers for the high incidence of HIV infection in the state. Now to say that the Lineage Bill will help control the spread of AIDS in the state is not only false but it is also foolish because of the simple fact that majority of the truck (particularly coal truck) drivers are of local Khasi-Pnar origin. So if truck driver are carriers of HIV then the Lineage Bill will never be able to help control the spread of AIDS because the Bill postulates that local men can always marry Khasi- Pnar women.
People living with HIV- AIDS already suffer stigmatisation and Shylla’s statement will further incite hatred and discrimination against them. His statement not only shows how insensitive our leaders are towards the population but more importantly it demonstrates the lack of knowledge and understanding amongst our political leaders on how to deal with this very sensitive issue. It also proves beyond doubt that our political leaders still need to be capacitated especially in dealing with sensitive issue like HIV AIDS.
The barrage of verbal duel between Shylla and the people living with HIV only shows how immature our leaders are. But instead of accepting their mistakes and short-comings and forgiving and forgetting our political leaders continue to justify their stances even if it hurts the sentiments of other people and is also morally wrong.
And if reports in the press are to be believed then another of HS Shylla’s faux- pas with regards to the third gender also proves that our leader’s general awareness is very poor and they still need to update themselves with the developments that are going on in the country from time to time. With the kind of statements he made, Shylla has only succeeded in doing one thing – that is to add to the number of people who are against the Bill. Shylla’s statement not only leaves a bad taste in the mouth but it has achieved the Bill‘s original objective which is to further divide the society. Add to the list of people who are considered to be second to the so called ‘pure blood;’ are women who marry non Khasi Pnar males and their children, the people living with HIV AIDS and now the third gender.
This is the problem with dividing people on their differences because division creates the ‘we’ ‘them ‘us’ and ‘they’ amongst us. And once you start hating one group or one section of the community then the list grows exponentially because you also have to hate the friends and families of those whom you hate in the first place. Shylla has succeeded in portray all those who are against the Bill as the enemies of the Jaitbynriew.
Now what do the NPP leaders have to say on this? NPP state President W R Kharlukhi said that Shylla’s statement are his personal opinions and the Party cannot stop members from expressing their personal views. Now what Kharlukhi did not say is what is the Party’s opinion on the issue, because if Shylla’s statement contradicts or is against the Party’s stand does that not amount to being anti party? Isn’t Shylla liable for disciplinary action for his irresponsible statement against the vulnerable section of the population? Or are we to assume that since the NPP has not made any statement to that effect, then it is safe to say that the party’s silence means consent? Or on the other hand maybe the NPP and the MDA owe it to Shylla for diverting the public attention from the contentious Them Iew Mawlong/Them Metor issue to the Lineage Bill? How short indeed is public memory and how easy it is to sway public opinion in the state.
The master stroke was from the newly elected MLA and well educated Chief Minister of the state who tried to skirt the issue by saying that KHADC is an autonomous body and we don’t interfere in the Council’s governance and policies. Conrad is right in a way but he is also committing a sin of omission by not saying what he thinks is right in this regard. He is trying to wash his hands off this very grave matter and by turning a Nelson’s eye to this very important issue, he is losing ground and this will not help him or the Government he leads.
The point here is not about KHADC’s governance and policies but it is about the attitude of a member of his own Party towards the people living with HIV- AIDS and the third gender. Can the Chief Minister deviates from the issue instead of addressing it head-on? Now if both the national and the state presidents of the NPP are taking this issue very lightly; then it only demonstrate the kind of attitude the party has towards a section of the population .
But the mother of all contradictions is the statement made by Lambor Malngiang, State Planning Board Chairman when he suggested that the officials should be lenient in dealing with the sawmill owners, sand, stone, limestone mining and coal mining. Perhaps the Chairman is not aware that these activities were stopped because there is a Supreme Court order with regards to the cutting of trees for timbers and sawmills and that there is an NGT ban on sand and coal mining.
The Chairman’s statement also goes against the Chief Minister’s message during the celebration of World environment Day last June 5. The Chief Minister during his interview with a National TV channel in Delhi spoke about the need to find ways and means to mitigate climate change. Now his own colleague and an no less a person than the Chairman of the State Planning contradicts all that the Chief Minister has been saying with regards to environment in the last six months. Or did the CM make those statements just because it is fashionable or politically correct to do so and the messages were also meant to please the targeted audience.
The citizens of this state have every right to know the Government’s stand on this very important issue. Whom should the people believe? The Chief Minister or the Chairman, State Planning board? Who steers the MDA ship? Is it the Chairman or the CM? This question is relevant because the Chairman of the State Planning Board by virtue of his office enjoys the same status as the CM and the Board is responsible for envisioning and planning the Government’s policies and programs.
It is important that the Chief Minister put his feet down and show the world who is in charge in running the affairs of the State. Conrad Sangma knows very well that he does not have much time because anything can happen after the May 2019 general elections. He needs to make hay while the sun shines so that he will have something to show before the 2023 election, because the general elections can throw up a surprise which can affect the current political arrangements in the state.