Editor,
With the finalisation of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, nearly two million people have been left out of the NRC and these people have now become flotsam and jetsam causing fear to the neighbouring states. Meghalaya and Nagaland have issued advisories to the police to take preventive measures to check any influx of illegal immigrants to their states.
The fear that those who have been excluded from the NRC in Assam may look for shelter in neighbouring states also dominated the ongoing Assembly session in Meghalaya, where legislators cutting across party lines voiced fears over the possibility of such people entering the state and urged the government to take immediate steps to check such influx in the state. The advisory in Nagaland, by its home department, said all entry points and check gates manned by the police should be suitably strengthened to prevent any possible influx of illegal immigrants. Mobile patrols at vulnerable locations should also be activated. So, the fate of the two million people is almost sealed.
With the neighbouring states taking precautionarymeasures to block the possible mass influx of these people, it is certain that these people who are really “Illegal migrants” or are sifted out to be foreigners without any valid documents will face a humanitarian crisis. It may be recalled that there are a lot of people from Bangladesh or Myanmar who had infiltrated into India over the years and many have by virtue of luck embraced the citizenship of India. Rohingya refugees are also part of these stateless people.
The Rohingya are a stateless Muslim minority in Myanmar. Their latest exodus began in 2017 when violence broke out in Myanmar driving more than half a million refugees to Bangladesh and India. Permanently disposed people have the potential to impact the regional security in ways we have not yet imagined. It is in that context, their safe return is important,not only on humanitarian grounds but also for security reasons.
Yours etc.,
TK Nandanan,
Via email
IoA in Article 371? Dear me!
Editor,
The Khasi Himas (not Meghalaya state) were forced to join the Indian Union after reluctantly signing the Instrument of Accession (IoA) under Sec. 6 of the Government of India Act, 1935 as adapted by Sec. 9 of the Indian Independence Act, 1947 (10 & 11 Geo. VI, Ch. 30 )
The covenants – the Standstill Agreement, 1947 and the Instrument of Accession subsequently signed between the native sovereign states and the Government of India were juridically international bilateral treaties entered between two sovereign states. They are recognized in the Charter of the United Nations which had provided for their recognition which opens the door for approaching the International Court of Justice in the event of any need.
This IoA issue is between the Khasi states and Indian government, just like the Naga sovereignty and India. Other tribes have no role here.
Yours etc.,
Morning Star Sumer,
Shillong – 2
The Army Gate of 58 GTC
Editor,
My two- year old son stands on the front seat of the car facing the side of the road every single day before coming out of and while entering the Army Gate of the 58 GTC just to be able to wave ‘bye-bye’ at the soldiers guarding the said gate, much to the amusement of his father and I. This gesture of his at the same time, got me wondering if he will repeat this same act by the time he attains the age of 15-16 years’, because by that time, I am sure he will be able to judge between the merits and demerits of that Gate.
It bears mention that the 58 GTC Army Gate serves as the main doorway to the clean and relaxed village of Mawshbuit. Hailing from Malki and being a very new resident of Mawshbuit, I was overjoyed at that our local MLA, David A Nongrum brought to the State Assembly on the September 11 this grave matter that had been bugging every local resident of Mawshbuit– ‘the Army Gate’- which has taken away the freedom of the locals to make use of the road without being subjected to military discipline.
The Army Gate is a matter of concern even for relatives of residents living outside Mawshbuit who happen to visit the village for their own reasons. There have been many incidents when passers-by had expressed their discomfort at being interrogated and being held back at the Gate point. It is also a matter of concern even for my father of 94 years who frequents the road from the time he was young who had spent most of his life in the area and who can vividly describe the condition of this road back then, when vehicles passed through this road on their way to Nongrim-Mawshbuit where the local market was held in the early days. Despite his information about the existence of the Gate and the arrival of the 58 Gorkha Training Centre, I think that this little piece of information strengthens the fact that this road has served as the only road since the very early days.
Now that I have to pass through this Gate I can imagine and feel the weight of unpleasantness caused by its existence to the local residents. Though my family and I have till date never come across any sort of harassment but the truth is that whenever we reach the point, my eyes would always be fixed on the other half of the gate which always remains closed to allow only one vehicle to pass through the gate at a time. Moreover, there are times when we happen to reach after 10:00 P.M. Then we would have to wait for the gate to be opened. This is annoying when we are in a hurry.
I am not aware about the ins and outs of this Gate though I am aware that it is quite recent compared to the actual existence and the actual utilization of the road. My question is whether a pre-existing road used by local people be appropriated by the military? Hence I applaud the local MLA, David Nongrum for raising this matter in the Assembly and hope that the matter will be treated seriously by the concerned authorities so that the weight will be lifted off the shoulders of the people of Mawshbuit.
Yours etc.,
Diana M Syiemlieh
Shillong-15
Plastic ban in full throttle
Editor,
The call by the Hon’ble Prime Minister to implement ban on single-use plastics by October 2, in the recently held UN Conference to Combat Desertification is overwhelming. As the call is given by the PM, the departments under Union Government should be the first to make a resolution to implement this ban in their offices. It is gratifying to know that the Ministry of Railways has already initiated steps to ban single use plastic, as many Railway zones have now made a commitment to get rid of plastics by October 2.
The move to ban single use plastic however comes as a very late move. The deadline of October 2 may be symbolic but the government and environment policy makers should have emphasized on earliest possible time much in advance to reduce dependence on single use plastics. Government agencies, industries such as FMCG, health-care, food processing, airlines, hospitals etc., should enforce ban on single use plastic on a full throttle mode to achieve complete freedom from dependence on plastics. Further public outreach campaigns on social media, print, TV, radio channels and brand ambassador campaign is highly necessary to reach out to the people in a seamless manner.
Apart from Government agencies, self help groups and NGOs alike should raise awareness among the citizens through creative outreach programmes at institutional level. It is also the duty of every citizen to give up single use plastic and instead rely on biodegradable materials and recyclable materials for use.
Yours etc.,
Varun Dambal
Bangalore- 72