Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Umiam bridge, a serious concern now

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Editor,

 An old man cannot carry a heavy load. If we forcefully and continuously make him carry the heavy weight, he will stumble and fall. He may even die. Similar is the case with the Umiam bridge now. Probably built in the early 60s with specified carrying capacity the bridge is now in a dilapidated condition. With the excessive rise in traffic to commensurate with the need of the ever-expanding Shillong town, the alarm bell has already been ringing. Allowing heavy trucks, sometimes with 18-wheels, to pass through this bridge day-in-day out is very risky in view of the condition and its expiry time period. Many concerned citizens and media have raised the security and risk factors in various platforms.  I only wonder why this siren of danger is not audible to our concerned authorities.

The MLA from Umroi, George B. Lyngdoh had brought this concern to the attention of the House in the last Autumn Session. He cautioned — “the entire state will be dragged into darkness. Who will take responsibility?” The MLA is practically right. All should stand with him.

 Just imagine and evaluate the likely situation of Shillong town if ever a major mishap happens. Heaven forbid! It will surely plunge our entire Meghalaya into darkness. Not just the “physical” darkness due to the absence of light but it will cripple the total economy of the state and much more. The tremors and jolts will be felt in Mizoram, Tripura and Silchar too. The immediate victim of the tragedy will be the adjoining Ri-Bhoi and downstream areas. Many lives might be lost. The innumerable households might be washed away by the water force, even affecting the topographical make-up. We need to know here that there is a vast difference between the destruction due to the collapse of a normal bridge and a water retaining bridge/dam.

 Moreover, what economically viable alternative do we have that we can keep dilly-dallying?  None at all! This Umiam Bridge is like an esophagus to this state. Meghalaya is in bloom only because this “one bridge” is functional. There should not be any further delay in constructing/ repairing the bridge. Concerned citizens should now put pressure upon the authorities to take this issue with utmost seriousness. Meanwhile, some strict restrictions must be in place to control the movement of heavy vehicles. We cannot afford to water down this risk and security factors any longer. Disaster waits for no one.

Yours etc.,

Salil Gewali,

Shillong

 

US Presidential Election 2020

Editor,

In a statement released by the White House shortly after Joe Biden was certified by Congress as the winner of the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump, after his devilish actions failed, was compelled to state that there would be a peaceful transition of power on January 20 next. After free and fair general elections held in the United States, one of the oldest  democracy of the world, Trump had been repeatedly accusing that the November 2020 presidential elections  were plagued by fraud. His claim of fraud was denied even by Republican officials including his former attorney general and Georgia’s election chief. Donald Trump’s persistently brazen attempts to undermine the integrity of voting systems have also failed. Legal Courts of Law of various states   and finally the Supreme Court have also rejected his fabricated and false charges of fraud in the elections.

Undaunted Trump continued to provoke and encourage his supporters to show up in force for protesting in connection with the Congressional vote scheduled for January 6, 2020 to affirm Joe Biden’s election victory.  The culmination of his sinister design came out in the open when on Wednesday Trump’s supporters, exhorted by the President to go to the Capitol and fight like hell against a stolen election, overran and occupied the building in an explosive confrontation that left a Capitol police officer and four others dead. Indulgence to such a heinous act of hooliganism by creating a goons-regiment by the Head of a state is unprecedented in the history of post Second World war.

After an extraordinary act of violence from a riotous mob forced U.S. legislators to evacuate the Capitol Building during the counting of the Electoral College votes in the presidential election, Congress voted to certify the results showing President-elect Joe Biden defeated President Trump.

Incited by Trump a frenzied riotous mob stormed and vandalized the Capitol and occupied  the offices of the Capitol building which is the symbol of the citadel of democracy. This constitute a grave crime which deserves exemplary punishment. As a part of his legacy the product of the destructive forces that President Donald Trump has been nurturing and stirring for years, namely the angry mob laid a siege to the U.S. Capitol, occupied the House and Senate chambers making legislator run for cover. It culminated in the disruption of a democratic ritual that would formally end his unconstitutional bid to stay in power.

But the violence, which included gunshots fired in the Capitol resulting in five deaths, and an armed occupation of the Senate floor, was fostered by the man who swore an oath to protect the very democratic traditions that rioters tried to undo in his name. This act amounted to an attempted coup d’état incited by the President of the United States.

It is a shame that insurrection and instigation was initiated by a duly elected and reigning President unwilling to honor and respect the verdict of the electorate for a peaceful transfer of power to the President-elect with a thumping majority of votes by resorting to rowdy manners. A President of the United States during his tenure conspiring with mobs to bring down his own Government as has been done by Donald Trump is totally against the idea and concept of democracy for which the nation has stood for over two centuries. Donald Trump needs to be barred for life from contesting elections and the newly elected team of Joe Biden may consider options for impeachment of Donald Trump for his misdeeds and to nip in the bud the possibility of recurrence of such a gross and shameful episode with a devilish trump card for good!

Yours etc.,

Samares Bandyopadhyay

Advocate, Kolkata High Court,

Kolkata

Youth Centre sans young people

Editor,

Anyone who passes through Don Bosco Square would have noticed that the gates of a once bustling centre called Don Bosco Youth Centre (DBYC), once an open house for people of all walks of life to meet, interact, conduct programmes or even check the bulletin board for job openings, are now closed to the public. The DBYC used to be a recreation and games centre and was throbbing with life during the lifetime of late Fr. Celia. Now with a new administrator taking over, it appears that the rules have changed. The place is deserted with all the gates shut. This is ironic because the DBYC should be a crowd puller for various weekend or weekday programmes to allow young minds a creative space as Don Bosco himself would have wanted. The Salesians of Don Bosco cannot forget the principles on which their founder stood firm and that was to influence the youth in the right direction by giving them time and attention. Fr Cilia was this and much more. He was a counselor and had time to listen to young people, including those in distress. The present disconnect goes against the tenets of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB).

Yours etc..

Dominic Stadlin Wankhar

Shillong-3

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