Editor,
It is unfortunate to read the news reports regarding the deplorable state of the health sector in our state with many essential, life-support machines not functioning at various institutes and the lack of infrastructure and transportations as well. The institutions are facing shortage of doctors, nurses and with no governmental state of the art diagnostic center, the poor people are ultimately the sufferers as they have to shell out hefty amounts in private hospitals.
It is also being observed that the new state government with the BJP as its allies is no better. The rampant issue of corruption whether it be of sensitive departments like Health or Power carries on even while Government is turning a blind eye to it. Even worse is the life threatening assault on activist Agnes Kharshiing when she tried to bring to light the issue of illegal coal mining. The growing strength of the KSU, FKJGP etc and the issue of Harijan colony and the riots that followed are not good indicators. The question that arises in my mind is whether Modi is really a watchman of the country or is he turning a blind eye to the states? The recent news about the faulty tendering process in the Health Department which bypassed the basic e-tendering mode, I wonder what the intention of this Government is. No actions is being taken against the errant officers involved. I am in serious doubt about the false promises of the BJP and their Hindutva agenda which has put secularism under a cloud. In fact I am starting to believe that the previous government was much better since we never heard of lynching or police officials being killed in the UPA regime.
Yours etc.,
Jonathan Lyngdoh
Via email
At last some improvement!
Editor,
The National Highway 40 all the way to Pynursla and Dawki is today a delight for commuters as one can just breeze through, unlike in the earlier days when it was termed as the ‘ Highway to Hell’. This makeover by the concerned PWD NH 40 Division along this stretch is much appreciated and deserves congratulations, although there is room for improvement towards making our highways safer. It goes to show that if there is a will and positive attitude in executing projects for the overall good of the people and the state, we can surely rise to the occasion. There are times when criticism does bring in some positive changes in society, which is good. It indicates the acceptance of a particular department of the need for change. As a state we can surely succeed if schemes and projects are executed meticulously and with accountability for the larger benefit of the people.
Yours etc..
Dominic S.Wankhar
Shillong-3
Wisdom from the young
Editor,
This refers to your editorial, “UP sinks into lawlessness” and the article, “Land where cows vote their government” by Aditya Aamir (ST, December 6, 2018). Every marginalised person in our country like a safai karmachari (scavenger) who dies every third day on an average in the gutter is in danger. They do not belong to any particular religion. Indeed, the false narrative that Hindus are in danger is actually putting the law of the land in danger. And when the law of the land is in danger then we all are in danger. The Bulandshahr incident is another testimony to it. The SHO Subodh Kumar Singh who had been investigating the horrifying Akhlaq murder case has reportedly been hunted down by the cow vigilantes in Uttar Pradesh. The cow vigilantes attacked a police station at Siyana village in Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh and shot dead the station house officer. The gang also burnt police vehicles after the discovery of cow carcasses in Mahav village.
The lynching of an ASI Dev Chand Nagle in MP’s Chhindwara district by an alleged criminal a couple of months ago and the gory incident in Bulandshahr indicate that criminals are trying to run a parallel government on the streets. Lynching monsters always want to be a law unto themselves. Their design is to paralyse the administration and judiciary. In this hour of crisis, we need to listen to the words of Abhishek Singh, the son of Subodh Kumar Singh. In an interview with NDTV after the brutal murder of his father, he said, “Today my father has died. Tomorrow a mob could kill a top police officer. Then someday it will be a minister. Should mob-killing culture be allowed to go on like this? Absolutely not.”
On cow slaughter, he said, “A human murder is more important than finding out who killed cows. If the Special Investigation Team is filing its report, then it should be clarified where the carcasses came from or whether they were planted to create trouble.”
On being asked what message he would like to convey to the Chief Minister on Hindu – Muslim politics, the teen said, “Not just the Chief Minister, I would appeal to the entire country, please stop Hindu – Muslim violence. People get violent at the slightest provocation. People should understand and think, that they are bound by the law.”
About his father, he said, “My father always used to say whatever else you become, you need to be a good citizen first. This country is yours. You people are not comprehending, I request you to understand – this mob culture will give us nothing.”
The words of Abhishek convey a hint of a better tomorrow. There is every reason to be optimistic.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata