Editor,
The news item “Shillong’s Crowborough Hotel Project Far From Completion” (ST Jan 23, 2019) is a sad reminder of how government after government has failed the state and it’s people. The Crowborough Hotel is one of the numerous projects that has brought shame and embarrassment to the state. The news report states that the hotel will have a soft opening by January 2020 but the truth is that we the people of the state have been fooled enough by false promises of governments so we are in no mood to believe these false claims until and unless we actually see the Hotel stand tall in its fullest glory. However, what is sadder is the bare fact that time and money has been wasted in various unfinished projects in the state. If nearly four decades is not sufficient to complete the Crowborough Project one wonders if the Assembly Building will also face the same plight. After all, after 19 years Meghalaya is yet to have an Assembly building of it’s own.
We the people need to know if governments and those in the helm of affairs will ever work in all earnestness towards completion of at least a single unfinished project or is it mere lip service?
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email
Judiciary must introspect
Editor
It is important to critically review the Indian judiciary from the people’s perspective. It is certainly unfair that a fairly foggy and questionable elevation system for the judges is in place currently and possibly many deserving individuals have been superseded or treated unfairly. However, what the judiciary is returning to the ordinary citizens of India; the core of the world’s largest democracy must also be asked. Several top court judgements in India involving rich elites, politician and celebrities have raised eyebrows around the globe and has placed serious doubts regarding the impartiality of the highest judiciary in India! Can the poorest of the poor afford to knock the doors of the Supreme Court of India, the abode of justice for a fair ruling? Can an ordinary citizen approach the court and expect true justice other than a new ‘date’? Politicizing the judicial system of India started several decades ago, post-independence and several judges with political connections have benefited. But in spite of the huge perks the judges receive from the Republic of India are they truly loyal to the citizens of the nation and the Constitution? This is an important question to ask. The Indian judiciary needs an honest self-introspection too.
Yours etc.,
Saikat Kumar Basu
Lethbridge AB Canada T1J 4B3
Inequity in India on the rise
Editor,
The recent Oxfam report estimates that the top one per cent of India’s population have as much as 51.53 per cent of the national wealth, the top 10 per cent own 77.4 per cent and the bottom 60 per cent have 4.8 per cent. This means that to celebrate our Republic Day, if we are to cut a cake where 100 people are present, we have to give more than half of the cake to just 1 person, more than 1/4 of it to 9 persons, less than 1/5 of it to 30 persons, leaving only a thin slice of less than 1/20 part for as many as 60 persons! Is there any justice and equity in all of this?
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Via email
Another Republic Day!
Editor,
Republic Day or Independence Day have no meaning to the large number of Indian citizens who are struggling to eke out a living and can barely have two square meals a day. The other day I was passing through Jhalupara and happened to see people being served food by some organisation. There might have been about two hundred people, more or less – men women and children who were eating what looked like a nutritious meal. On enquiring from the people in the locality I was told that there is a charitable trust that is providing these hot meals daily. Now how does Republic Day have any meaning for these poor souls? Instead of celebrating the day by having all kinds of functions where the high and mighty attend, it would be better to use the money to help the poor in the neighbourhood. I was very touched that there could be an organisation in Shillong that cares about the poorest and the needy and that people would cook meals for them every day. The volunteers of this charitable organisation must be commended for their hard work for it is not an easy task to do this every single day.
Yours etc.,
MK Kapoor,
Via email