Editor,
Though Hispreachingson Shylla gave himself the moniker of “High Speed Shylla” in a recent public meeting of the CoHSO at Students’s field, the appropriate term for him is “Mercurial Shylla.” This is one man you can’t trust because of his fickle-minded nature. Since his foray in the public domain, HS Shylla started with fiery speeches without proper reasoning and with the intention to garner cheap popularity among the masses. We still remember that he even promised that his head would fall down at Malki ground if demands were not met; then Shylla mercurially switched his position from one party to another to suit his interests. His supporters in the last MLA election were not mistaken when they composed a song befitting his traits as, “Bahdeng la kum u shrieh, kynthih na ‘nat sha ‘nat. Fondly called “Bahdeng” they portrayed him as a monkey jumping from branch to branch without managing to pluck any fruit.
One cannot imagine that within a span of three years, Shylla defected into more than three parties i.e. UDP,PDF and NPP, not to mention his previous association with other national parties. He made his inroads into all parties but in the end all proved sore for him. Our memory is not that short to recall what Shylla had done during his first tenure as CEM of the KHADC when he took a stand on Uranium mining. In a photograph he is shown grabbing a piece of yellow cake in his hand to declare that Uranium is not harmful to humans, only to contradict himself by taking pressmen to that same area last year and to declare that Uranium was harmful and that he has clipped the wings of UCIL at Domiasiat area.
On the other hand, his clarion call to the public to shun all political parties and to choose an independent MP in the next general election shows that Shylla still nurtures hopes to be a candidate for the MP elections. However, it may be recalled that before he leapt into political arena yet again, he had publicly declared that he would quit politics as he has a higher calling in God’s ministry but only to go back on that declaration. His closest rival, Ardent Basaiawmoit when asked about Shylla’s backtracking said, “Why do you believe him, a man who dares to fool God? Do you think he will spare innocent people?” Shylla has proved that he lacks credibility and people should not be swayed by his insignificant oratory.
The Hynniewtrep people need leaders with a sound mind to lead at this point in time and not the hot-headed types. We need leaders who think twice and thrice before they leap into any issue and not vice-versa.
Yours etc..,
Maximus Strongman Shadap
Via email
Anti-defection & Dist Councils
Editor,
If we have the Anti-Defection Law for parliament and state legislatures then what’s the politics behind not having the same in the District Council. The electorate is exasperated and betrayed in every Council Poll. It is our experience that during the election campaign the candidates promise many things that their Party will do if elected. This they do only to receive the support of voters. Most of the voters, choose their candidates because they agree with the ideology of the Party they are contesting from and its programmes and manifesto. But soon after they have won they abandon the Party, forget their vows to the people and associate themselves with other parties for their selfish interests.
The absence of the Anti-Defection Law in the District Councils has added to their instability. We see the formation of 5-6 Executive Committees (ECs) with 4-5 Chief Executive Members (CEMs) heading the Councils within five years. Since members are constantly defecting from one party to another this severely affects the working and functioning of the District Councils.
There has been a strong demand by the people from every nook and corner of the State for implementation of the Anti-defection Law in the District Councils as is being applied in the State Assemblies and Parliament where any elected member will be disqualified on the grounds of defection to another party for the lure of office.
Few weeks back the Union Cabinet approved the Constitutional Amendment to the Sixth Schedule in order to strengthen the District Councils. The main motive of this Amendment is to stir up the financial resources and other powers and functions of the District Councils in the Sixth Schedule areas of the North Eastern states. But the Union Government failed to fulfill the desires of the people to implement the Anti-defection Law in the District Councils. If the Anti-Defection law is not implemented then the District Councils have already lost their credibility. In any case we cannot deny that the District Councils are mere platforms for intending politicians who nourish their aspirations to contest Assembly elections in the future.
Yours faithfully,
Ban P Marwein
Via email
Election time gimmicks
Editor,
It is election time and in this highly charged atmosphere, each political party in different formation is raking up issues, many of which were not in the radar for last 5 years or so. The Ram Mandir at Ayodhya is an example as to how BJP is making efforts to enthuse its core constituency; it has also promised to dole out cash to the farmers before the elections, along-with reservations to the economically weaker sections among the general castes. The Congress, on the other hand, is talking about farm loan waivers and minimum income to the poor. How these play out after the elections is anybody’s guess. Many political promises are made before elections, but these are hardly acted upon, and remain mostly as promises.
With a literacy rate of about 70%, Indians should wake up and hard check facts and data, before making a decision as to whom to vote. After elections, it is also the responsibility of the citizens to hold the government and the party in power to accountability. Else, the citizens of the country would continue to be fooled with “jumlas” even in next few elections
Yours etc.,
A Bhuyan
Nagaon