Editor,
Today, Meghalaya is yet to be officially declared Covid-19 free as the disease is still lurking around and who knows, what will happen after the return of many Meghalayans who were stuck outside the state during lockdowns and especially when its borders are opened for free entry. We do not know who the carriers of the virus are and who is not because, even after rigorous tests results of the disease may not show up.
We feel a sense of great relief when the majority of the Covid positive patients here are declared negative during the last few days. However, we must not take it for granted that the virus has left Meghalaya for good. We must be extra cautious and strictly observe the protocols issued by the health authorities and the government from time to time. We must remember that the number of deaths from the dreaded disease is mounting in thousands every day in many states in India and around the world. Virologists, microbiologists and other scientists around the world are scrambling to find vaccines against this disease but till date they have not found any. We hope and pray that soon they will find the right antidote before lakhs of people fall prey to the virus. As believers we must not forget that mankind’s wars against diseases, plague and pestilence will not succeed without invoking the help of the Almighty. And who knows, this dreaded disease which has wreaked havoc across the globe might have been caused by the sinfulness of man so that mankind will turn their face to the Creator for forgiveness of sins and for complete disappearance of the disease.
Yours etc.
Philip marwein,
Shillong-2.
Congress to the fore
Editor,
Who says Congress has gone into hibernation once it lost the Lok Sabha election? And who said Congress has become inured to the sensitive issues of people of this country? In a political master stroke, Congress President Sonia Gandhi announced that her party’s state units would bear the train fare of migrant labourers returning home, thereby putting the BJP-led Central government on the back-foot. It was improper on the part of the Central government to charge steep rail fares from the half-starved migrant labourers and Sonia Gandhi rushed to the rescue of the migrant labourers and announced this largesse.
Modi, sitting at the helm of affairs and calling the shots, sensed the inherent danger of Congress party’s decision to foot the bills, later clarified that the Government of India would bear 85 percent train fare and 15 per cent would be borne by state governments. The Modi government had to face attack from his own party for the controversial stand it adopted on bringing back migrant workers to their home states and making them pay train fares during the lockdown when labourers were left in the lurch.
It is good that Sonia Gandhi rose to the occasion and came as a political messiah to help the migrant workers. In a strategic move on the political chess board, Congress got an envious advantage and a clear message was conveyed to its political rival that at the time of people’s crisis, it will surely be second to none in addressing the people’ woes. People are the asset of a nation and everyone who constitutes the nation must be loved and taken care of by its respective government. In fighting Covid-19, the US has done everything good to the people because it loves its country men and gives all kinds of assistance to them. People respect each other, and when they are faced with problems, the nation comes to the rescue of its citizens.
Another burning issue that is troubling people now is the three months’ short-term moratorium on bank loans, which is going to be over this month and they are beset by the burden of repayment from next month onwards. Additionally three more months’ moratorium on bank loans is needed for the people of this country to tide over their financial problems. Existing moratorium on bank loans comes not without waiving of interest; people have to repay with accrued interest. Why can’t the government offer an interest-free moratorium? When the government offers a moratorium on bank loans, it should definitely benefit the people in the real sense. But the government, cheek by jowl with the banks, has only taken the people for a ride by announcing a moratorium which is not beneficial to people. This phoney declaration will only further burden the people. Surely, people will judge the government by its actions.
Yours etc.,
TK Nandanan,
Via email