Editor,
Apropos news report, “State alone cannot notify restricted areas” (ST December 18, 2019), kindly allow me to point out only one flaw in Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s argument against ILP (BEFR V of 1873?). I would like to mention that the Protected Area Permit (PAP) under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958 issued under the Foreigners Act, 1946, as well as the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) under the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963, are applicable in Sikkim but, not in Meghalaya. Surely, Mr. Conrad Sangma does not advocate applying those provisions of the Foreigners Acts in Meghalaya! He should study the provisions of these Acts and Orders more diligently than he seems to have done till now so, that he may tell us whether they are needed in Meghalaya.
Yours etc.,
Morning Star Sumer,
Shillong – 2
India: The internet shutdown capital
Editor,
The suspension of internet services in Assam and the other parts of the North-East has further strengthened the term given by Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) to India as the “Internet Shutdown Capital” of the world as India has experienced 154 shutdowns between January 2016 and May 2018.
That’s a huge distance ahead of second placed Pakistan’s 19 shutdowns and 8 in both Iraq and Syria. The Constitution of India provides us with the Right to Freedoms under which is the Freedom of Speech and Expression. Social media is one of the most important forums nowadays for discussions, expressing one’s views and opinion on various topics.
In India, internet shutdowns are often used as a tool to crack down dissent. In 2016, the UN declared that it considers the internet to be a human right. In fact, closer home in 2017, Kerala declared internet as a basic human right, entitled to everyone. The current internet shutdown in Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and some other parts of North East India in the wake of protest against CAA has made the promises made by present BJP led government of flourishing economy futile as keeping aside the misery of common people, the worst affected are the daily wage earners working in online services like Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Zomato etc and are almost on the streets because of no income.
The irony of the whole scenario is that our Government aspired to make India a digital country with everyone being eligible to use internet services. But just to ensure that nobody speaks ill of the Government and to bring so called stability in our states, internet has been shut down in almost every place where people have tried to protest. It seems every time the government makes a decision on something that is controversial, snapping internet connections is one of the first moves. This is sadly and definitely not the India we want to showcase to the rest of the world.
Yours etc.,
Ritika Das
Guwahati – 8
Of killer potholes
Editor,
It was exactly a year ago that an SC bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur said that the large number of deaths caused due to potholes was “unacceptable” and was “probably more than those killed on border or by the terrorists “.The court had then demanded for an explanation from the central government on a report to this effect . Soon after, the centre and some states did come out with some stringent actions and steps to curb accidents caused due to potholes and pits but sad to say the condition is back to square one .Pot holes remain silent killers and poor pedestrians and two wheeler riders keep on falling –some escape with bruises and injuries while some sadly lose their precious lives.
An accident that occurred because of a pothole recently in Kochi city ,which took the life of a young bike rider again point to the lackadaisical attitude of the concerned departments. The tragic occurrence made the High Court of Kerala go heavily on the authorities. The Court reprimanded the state machinery for this plight. The Kerala High Court in a show of sympathy apologised to the family members of the youth who died because of the pothole . Justice Devan Ramachandran made the apology when he was hearing a petition on poor road conditions and numerous killer pot holes that have become a nightmare for pedestrians and two wheeler riders. The Kerala High Court in its statement said it is a shame that no action has been taken despite its intervention on this issue time and again .It has also said that if this continues then the concerned authorities will be personally liable.
The Supreme Court had stated last year that over 14,926 people have been killed in road accidents due to potholes during the period, 2013 to 2017 .The number would have only gone further up as the Kochi pot hole incident only goes to show that pot holes remain on all our roads and they are there like “ gaping jaws of death” waiting for the next victim. That so many deaths occur due to potholes – the silent killers – clearly exposes the negligence and apathy on the part of the government and it’s authorities. Sadly when elected representatives forget their vows and promises made to the voters it becomes the duty of the judiciary to intervene and help the public and mitigate the woes of the common man. The Court must check the Government’s attitude towards such matters and also come out with an order to take strict action on engineers and contractors who do not comply with the rules and regulations which must be followed while constr8ucting and repairing roads.
Yours etc.,
M Pradyu,
Via email