Editor,
The Supreme Court had in its order notified all states that there shall not be any misuse of red beacons and siren as a ‘ matter of privilege ‘ and that only emergency rescue vehicles, law enforcement agencies, ambulances can utilize them according to necessity. However, in many states this law has been misused; so also here in Meghalaya. As per Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989 only emergency vehicles can use their designated colour coded beacons and sirens which was reinforced by the Apex Court. But till date we find that many cars with private number plates continue to blare sirens which is illegal and also a contempt of the Supreme Court’s ruling. Perhaps the Home Department needs to pull up its socks before the State Government becomes a laughing stock .
Yours etc ..
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong
No humanity left
Editor,
I refer to a letter by Philip Marwein (ST Jan 23, 2019) calling for winding up the rescue operation of the miners trapped in a mine in East Jaintia Hills. Marwein seems to lack the moral compass that guides humans to care for one another. Perhaps he is keen to abandon the rescue operation because he believes it is futile to bring out dead bodies but has he not read the Supreme Court order which says that the State Government should rescue the miners dead or alive and that miracles can happen. Philip Marwein seems to toe the government line about giving up this rescue operation because “it is expensive.” Is money more important than human lives?
Let the mine owners pay for this rescue operation. It will teach them to be more responsible next time they think of investing in another rat hole mine.
Yours etc.,
Rudolph Khriam,
Shillong-3
Priyanka Gandhi’s timely entry
Editor,
Much has been said by the BJP and others about the entry of Priyanka Gandhi into active politics. People seem to have a problem with dynasty but they forget that here in the North East we have accepted dynastic politics. Meghalaya is a good example. It is my belief that a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family entering politics, this time to take charge of Eastern Uttar Pradesh will definitely bring in more goodwill for the Congress Party. Priyanka Gandhi has a grace about her and handles the media very adroitly. She addresses them in a personal tone. She is able to touch base with ordinary people and appears to be better able to think on her feet than her brother Rahul Gandhi. For all we know, Priyanka might just give Rahul Gandhi a run for his money and might even be projected as the future Prime Minister of India. Yes Priyanka could turn the tide for the Congress Party despite the critics who seem to be unduly perturbed by her entry into politics.
The Congress needs a talisman to revive its waning fortunes. Its win in the assembly elections in three important states happened mainly because of anti-incumbency. Vasundhara Raje the CM of Rajasthan failed to provide relief to farmers. So too the CMs of Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh both of whom have been at the helm for too long a time. The electorate want change because they link change to hope. They can at least hope in a new government because the old one had failed them. But it is not necessary that people will vote the same way for the Lok Sabha elections. And the BJP did not do too badly in all of the three states. Hence the Congress which is not part of the Mahagatbandhan of opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh will have to play its cards well.
It is not yet known if Priyanka Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha election. If she does then a win is guaranteed because of her personal charisma and connect with the voters. Whenever Priyanka has been roped in for the campaign she has given it her all. Perhaps this Indira Gandhi look-alike might even be brought to the North Eastern states to campaign here. She will win hearts and votes too, I hope. However, that does not mean that the Congress Party should rely only on the Nehru-Gandhi family to win elections. Every Congress worker must gear himself/herself to face the Lok Sabha polls with confidence and must also be willing to work hard and invest their time and energies in meeting people and finding out their problems. The Congress lost the last election here by a very small margin. And here also it was a case of anti-incumbency. Now that the Congress in Meghalaya knows what it is to be in the opposition I hope that they will work harder and connect with the voters. Although Priyanka Gandhi’s entry into active politics will for now be as general secretary in charge Eastern UP, we hope she is given a bigger role in the Party after May 2019. That is if she has not already contested and won the Lok Sabha elections.
Yours etc.,
BK Sharma,
Via email