Editor,
Having read through the article, ‘MUA-II and MDA: Same wine in the same bottle’ (ST Oct 15, 2018) I must mention here that I tend to agree to most of the points raised by H H Mohrmen in his write up but on some issues I beg to defer. Firstly I do not agree that the seven month old MDA government has lost its popularity. It has not lost its popularity at all. In fact the people, both in urban and rural areas, are still pinning their high hopes in this conglomerate MDA led by the young dynamic Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma. Till now he is looked upon as Mr. Clean until proven otherwise. Again, till date, no minister of the MDA Government is accused of any gross misdemeanour. The success and failure of the government cannot be judged by the educational qualifications of the ministers but by their ability to deliver. Also if we are to judge the overall performance of the government that can be done only after it completes at least two years in governance. It is too early to judge this government because it has completed only seven months and most of the new ministers are yet to be conversant with the intricacies of their respective ministries. Secondly, judging from what has happened I do not agree that Dr. Mukul was a strong Chief Minister but I tend to agree with those who called him a dictator or despotic CM who cared for no one, not even his cabinet colleagues (megalomaniac) and cornered almost all portfolios and ministries unto himself leaving his cabinet colleagues on skin and bones. To be despotic CM does not tantamount to strong CM. An able and strong CM is one who can distribute portfolios to each of the Ministers according to their ability to handle those and who can get his cabinet colleagues to act as a team to deliver good and efficient governance bereft of corruption and for the benefit of the public .
Hence, I personally feel that it is too early to conclude that this MDA government is the same wine in the same bottle. We have seen the wine of MUA I and MUA II for donkey’s years but certainly the MDA has hardly produced any wine to definitely say this is red wine or spurious wine.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Via email
Know your mission Conrad Sangma!
Editor,
HH Morhmen’s article seems rather prejudiced towards the Conrad Sangma led-MDA Government. He has done this in the past too – praise Mukul Sangma while berating those in the present government. However, I will agree with him on one point and that is the arbitrary transfer of officers at the whims and fancies of his ministers. The Chief Minister cannot succumb to coalition pressure when it comes to transfers and postings but Conrad Sangma seems to have done that when he immediately shifted some police officials from their present postings and transferred them elsewhere. In doing so, the CM has not gained the admiration of the forces. Police officers known to make a quick buck have been posted at strategic points to facilitate coal smuggling or to ensure smooth passage at check points. This is nothing but succumbing to pressure which in turn is linked to corruption. And now we hear of the intent to revive the State Lottery. Many years ago the Peoples’ Rally Against Corruption (PRAC) comprising all leading pressure groups had done their utmost to stop the online lottery proposed to be run by the Lottery baron and former MP from Assam, Mani Kumar Subba.
Why, do these dubious firms always land up in Meghalaya unless there are touts who bring them in and make money by introducing them to powerful people in the Government. And why has this firm – NV International which still has heavy dies to pay back to the state even daring to file a case against the Government and claiming something like Rs 28 crore as being due to it. The Government has to make this whole deal public and the NGOs need to get to the bottom of this deal. We in Meghalaya do not want these storm troopers who want to make easy money cashing in from this state. And we expect the Government to stop encouraging touts and consultants from inhabiting the corridors of power.
Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma should know that it is not out of a whim that people voted his Government in. They wanted to give him and themselves a chance to experience better and transparent governance that will redeem Meghalaya from the morass of years of corruption, leading to poor service delivery. We know that some crooks from the MUA have found their way into the present government but we want to see the CM rein in these greedy ministers and putting them in their place. The people of Meghalaya should also learn not to vote for money but for a better state. If these rapacious ministers are reined in and shown their place, then Conrad Sangma would have earned a place in our hearts. Governance is not just political jugglery; it is a God-ordained responsibility and the young CM should be conscious of this. Young voters like me should not regret having voted in a government with an average age of 35 years.
Yours etc.,
Merinda Kharsohnoh,
Via email