Editor,
Things are worsening daily in this wretched state of ours. From long hibernation, Ardent Basaiawmoit who could never take pains to look at Byrnihat infiltrators check gate, to learn that besides the fact that promotion with exit from Byrnihat (a lucrative gate) was always foregone, the Gate had invited more illegal immigrants than by its being absent. It is no different from the 8th mile (Phra Mer) no entry in Jaintia Hills, the Umphyrnai Smit stretch, infested with liquor and drugs, and the weigh-bridge at Umling. The most profitable is Mookyndur where you pay for 15 tonnes, load 35 tonnes called Morjee load and fatten certain purses.
Ardent doesn’t seem to know that the IAS with modern style of examination, where candidates have to know every part of a Rafale (not at all necessary to be IAS) or a Sukhoi or the Bofors range, is invincible. So sad to see MCS officers being forced to be DC’s and governing MeECL. In the face of all these Mr Basaiawmoit contends that our students do not go to JNU, Calcutta, Jadavpur or IIT’s. I am afraid that the NEET passed candidates would stay put at NEIGHRIMS. Choosing a partner to marry would now need Ardent’s permission. He never raised a voice when the ex CJI Rajan Gogoi allowed gay marriage. What would the Pastor say, “I now pronounce you Manchester United, Amen!” Genesis is trampled.
One advance warning! (1) If this is our mindset no tourist would risk his life. (2) Any torture of non-tribals would invite repercussions and our students in Universities, IIT’s, who aim for academic excellence to fight Modi’s folly of demonetization and of 9 crore 72 lakhs unemployed youth, too heavily engaged with his CAA; will be in jeopardy and the GDP will shoot to minus.
And as a reminder, please shun a 1979 like war. A rumour (no mobile then) had sent thousands to Salt Lake with Assam type homes at throwaway prices. Most of them taught us in colleges. Let us be little civilized if not completely (not to expect from past experience). Let bygones be bygones and forgive us our trespasses as we do to our voters who by mistake voted some people to power be it at the State or Centre by bribing them with freebies and huge promise of electoral bonds sent by Donald Trump’s NRIs, recently acquitted of impeachment by a whisker. The world has gone awry indeed!
Yours etc.,
Marbianglang Rymbai
Via email
Cracks appear in the MDA
Editor,
I wish to point out here that all is not well within the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) because of many contradictions which have developed within the alliance. The political parties within the alliance have already spoken in contradictory languages and sung different voices which the public at large here in the state are confused. What is more serious is the fact that many ministers within the alliance have already expressed deep dissatisfaction and some have publicly demanded that the Home Minister be sacked immediately and that A L Hek should be replaced by Sanbor Shullai as Cabinet Minister. The public at large are not at all happy with the delivery and performance of the MDA government on several fronts. They also accuse the government of complicity with the coal mafia in illegal extraction and illegal transport and export of coal. Many have openly accused the Home Minister of inefficiency to handle the home portfolio and also accused him of free flow of coal outside the state.
Therefore, in the interest of the people of the state and in the interest of clean governance, I appeal to the Chief Minister to immediately repair the cracks before the MDA crumbles under its own weight. The Chief Minister should either divest the Home portfolio from James Sangma or remove him from the ministerial berth or both. Then to replace the officers and staffs who used to oversee the illegal extraction of coal and its illegal transportation, and to allow the CBI to investigate into the coal scam. The coal scam has indeed tainted the clean image of the NPP led coalition regime. The confidence of the public at large on the MDA has eroded rapidly due to the coal issue and the handling of the CAA and the relations with Modi-Shah.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Via-Email
Generosity towards to the poor
Editor,
Apropos the letter by Salil Gewali “Struggling mother with a child” (ST Feb 7, 2020) moved me also. The writer has raised a genuine issue regarding the poor communities who just suffer endlessly. What I feel is service towards humanity is the need of the hour and the awareness in this respect is very essential than meaningless politics. What is the use of modern technology if we are not capable of filling the stomachs of hungry mouths and they are leading a hard life? With so many negative vibes around we have forgotten our basic duties towards the underprivileged. The privileged people in the town just bargain from the poor vendors and never empathise with their genuine plight. But we go and visit the big “shopping malls” and purchase expensive articles without complaining about the price. We willingly pay whatever the price tags demand. There may not be any logical reasons for the articles being so expensive. But at the times when we buy some vegetables or fruits from farmers or vendors, we bargain so much that we do not want to pay even their labour costs. I personally feel, communities who are poor, irrespective of their caste and creed, must be supported and taken care of. I thank Salil Gewali for this motivational letter.
Yours etc.,
Rupesh R. Nath,
Shillong