Editor,
Now that the dust has settled down after the GHADC elections results have been declared and we all know who is going to govern the GHADC, I believe the coalition governing the Council needs to bring in the Anti- Defection law immediately. Party hopping MDCs have actually crippled the smooth functioning of the Council and it’s just not only the GHADC, but the other two District Councils too suffer from this ill. I believe all MDCs must come together to scuttle any future defectors from benefiting from such a detrimental exercise to the governance of the Council. The Anti- Defection law will bring an end the Judases who scheme and plot for a bigger share of the loaves and fishes. This test will prove how serious are the political parties in addressing corruption too.
Yours etc.,
Tyrone D’Brass
Tura
Use of arms uncalled for
Editor,
I can’t help recollecting whatever I had witnessed in the fateful incident on Mawshbuit road which passes through the GTC area on the evening of April 12, 2021. I was with my three year old son and my sister on my way to an important family matter, when a few minutes later I had to engage in a verbal duel with few army personnel dressed in their civvies. I was amidst the local taxi drivers and youth of Mawshbuit who were protesting against the unpleasantness caused by the traffic barricades on both sides of the road at that particular stretch which had been put up that very same day. I chose to stay on the spot because of two reasons: I was irritated by the harsh manner in which a few army men were handling the situation and I was concerned for the safety of the youth protesting on the spot. Although I knew I couldn’t do much but was simply present there to help ease the tension.
Recounting the whole scenario got me wondering how many more times are we going to face such situations in the future. From angry shouts of few army men, to exchanging of verbal fights, to power being cut off twice, to brutal assault of our unarmed youths in which four or five of them were injured and one of them luckily escaped injury from the khukri but was left with its mark on his hip.
What shocked me most is the act of cowardice on the part of the army personnel in using rifles and khukri to randomly thrash and injure the unarmed people gathered at the spot where I was standing.
With due respect to the army officials representing the GTC in the meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office on April 13 who preferred to settle the matter amicably and claimed that the people of Mawshbuit are their neighbours and friends, may I point out that whatever had been done did not demonstrate that friendship and neighbourliness.
Hence I would like to ask whether it is appropriate that war weapons like rifles and khukri be used against unarmed civilians who were simply protesting for a cause, above all for something that was causing discomfort to the people of the village. Should they have been treated with zero tolerance?
It was a relief to hear that in the joint inspection meeting held on April 17, 2021 between the District Administration, East Khasi Hills, Headman & Members of Dorbar Shnong Mawshbuit, the local MDC and Army officials of 58 GTC, resolutions on short term issues had been made. Issues like checking/harassment of the public at the gate and use of traffic barricades is to be discontinued, rumble strips (speed breakers) positioned on both sides of the gate are to be removed and the gate is to remain wide open. Also the initiative to form an empowered committee to solve the problem permanently is a positive step.
While appreciating the concern shown by the District Administration, I also express my gratitude to the Headman and Dorbar Shnong, Mawshbuit, our local MDC for treating the matter seriously and also the leaders and members of the different social organizations, the KSU,HYC,FKJGP who whole-heartedly stood with us in fighting our cause.
Lastly, the fact remains that the road has been under the utilization of the Shnong of Mawshbuit for almost two hundred years now. Based on this ground, I wholeheartedly urge the concerned authorities to see that this problem is solved permanently i.e.by ‘the removal of the gate’ such that the freedom and peace of mind of the peace loving people of Mawshbuit is restored.
Yours etc.,
Diana M Syiemlieh,
Shillong-793007
Mass gatherings the biggest mistake
Editor,
Even a child knows that he should not play with fire. But amidst the raging heat of the pandemic, the government certainly played with fire. More than anything, it has hastened to lift the restrictions on “mass social gatherings”. With the benefit of hindsight, one believes, it is one of the “biggest mistakes” for which we might have to pay dearly in the future. Are our tomorrows not staggering in the darkness of uncertainty? The innumerable election campaigns held recently and mass gatherings expose the height of our hypocrisy.
If we seriously analyze the exponential rise in COVID cases in the last two weeks in the country, we come to the conclusion that it has its roots in mass social gatherings. What is heart-rending is that the second avatar of the Wuhan virus has come with a sharper sting. What will be the consequences if another round of “lockdown” is imposed as in the last year? In fact, it is a very serious thing. How will the poor people, such as vendors, hawkers, daily wagers, drivers, rickshaw-owners, tea-sellers barbers, carpenters etc survive? Hence imposing the lockdown again will be like forcing people already impoverished by poverty to die without food. So, before the situation turns from bad to worse, social gatherings of all kinds must be strictly prohibited. If we don’t postpone our merry-making and festive celebrations, the virus might hasten our “end” on this planet.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong