By Albert Thyrniang
It is extraordinary to engage with two UDP prominent leaders, namely, Dr Jemino Mawthoh and BM Lanong whose long letter to the editor appeared on April 12 and 14, respectively, in response to my article dated April 6. Disappointingly, the General Secretary missed the main contention in my exposition completely while the Adviser to the party shows he has been rattled knowing that the James Sangma’s issue seems to have backfired this time around.
The articulated letter, “Veiled threat by UDP unwarranted” last Saturday, other opinions and the news reports quoting a three time Member of Parliament have modified my response quite drastically. So, there is no need to harp on the same points to avoid being repetitive. In a nutshell the complaints were firstly that the UDP demanded the removal of NPP’s James Sangma as Home Minister for the rampant illegal coal mining and transportation but is silent or rejected the demand for resignation of their present Home Minister Lakmen Rymbui, for exactly the same failures. Secondly, for the second time the UDP targeted the same James Sangma, insisting he be stripped off the Power portfolio as well, for the ills in MeECL at a time when their Home Minister who replaced the former is not doing any better at the ‘coal’ and Law and Order front. Is exposing this double standard criminal?
Reminders in history could be a supplementary argument. The ‘Hills party’ claims it is secular. Before the 2019 Assembly election it opposed the ideology of BJP. However, post-election it embraced the ‘communal’ party to become the architect of the MDA government formation. The NPP’s alleged nexus with the BJP was known before the elections. But the UDP’s supporters were shocked that their party partnered with the RSS-backed saffron party. Mawthoh himself justified the inclusion of the BJP by blaming the people for not voting for his party, the UDP. Then the UDP stated it was anti-CAB/CAA. But it remained with the NPP led MDA government when the NPP voted for the CAA in the Lok Sabha. Later it even supported WR Kharlukhi, the NPP’s Rajya Sabha candidate, the very party that welcomed CAA.
It is assuring to see defenders of democratic rights come forward. The warnings and veiled threats from the annoyed veteran politician “not to enter into the areas where even angels fear to tread” is an intimidation. Effectively the message is to all writers, “Be careful what you write. If you are critical and attract our ire you may be taken to task.” This is a blatant attempt to stifle freedom of speech.
Besides personal remarks, Lanong also displayed a stereotype mentality. He favours setting rules that certain people should not overstep their ‘boundaries’. This is probably why, even in this millennia the male domains are out of bounds for women. If they challenge the status quo they are not taken kindly. It takes the Meghalaya High Court to allow women to be members of the traditionally male-dominated village council (Village Dorbar). Perhaps another court order is warranted for women to have a role in higher traditional institutions. After the ruling Lanong himself reacted stating women’s participation should be “confined to the village level and not at the higher level of traditional chiefs.” This exclusive attitude could be the reason for the near absence of women leaders in the UDP, in other political parties, the Legislative Assembly and in the ADCs. This irony in the matrilineal kingdom is truly unfathomable. But political leaders are unconcerned.
Unspecified ‘they’ have advised me, “Being you, you may not be involved in politics…Write only on development.” Well, I comment on development, corruption, law and order, violence, democracy, education, backwardness, etc. all of which are inseparably linked to politics. Can anyone ever detach the above from the wide embracing entity called politics? I am not (involved) in politics. I am not a member of a political party. I don’t work for any political party. But I am a Meghalaya voter. Why does one have to explain that he has equal rights?
Those who are ‘concerned’ that individuals like me are ‘involved’ in politics can refer to my articulation “Calling the Church out” of February 9 this year in this paper for which inspiration was drawn from the cover story of the national ‘Christian’ Weekly, the India Currents. The magazine’s cover story of February 8-15, 2021 that was entitled, “The Church is NOT Apolitical”and the editorial“Church’s Mission: Be Vocal for People” elaborately quote Church’s documents including Synod of Bishops, papal Encyclicals, Apostolic exhortations, the famed Second Vatican Council and the documents of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI). In his much acclaimed Encyclical Fratelli Tutti Pope Francis declares, ‘The Church cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the building of a better world, and she cannot fail to contribute to the betterment of society.’ In unequivocal terms the writer of the lead article declares that Jesus was never apolitical. He was ‘deeply concerned about the deep-rooted injustices of his time and took a visible and vocal stand against them’.Please Google for more.
The contents of the periodical are a critical analysis of political developments with an anti-Hindutva ideology slant. Occasionally this writer makes his way into the pages of the prestigious Weekly. Contributors are mainly persons like me. The lesson is, getting involved in electoral politics is out. Political comment is in.
Contrary to Lanong’s charge, I did not lambast anyone as a criminal nor used abusive and slanderous language nor called anyone a ‘hypocrite’. If Lanong himself admits, “We hypocrite politicians in UDP” others can’t dispute.As for ‘hypocrisy’ it is a term rival political parties liberally throw at each other. It is often heard in public discourses and even in parliament. After my column the word featured in many letters. How is it ‘contemptuous’ when the reasons are clearly presented? Does the accusation, “The present dispensation has gone into looting, (and) corruption” imply the involvement of every minister in MDA government? Do the allegations like “UDP exploits more than NPP” or “UDP charges “doubled” on coal trucks” dump all in that party? Will Lanong take it personally and consider legal actions against the labellers?If someone thinks the allegations are directed to him personally, it is his volition!A lawyer would know that these are criminal charges not mine. Moreover, I made allegations against no one in the UDP fold.
While one of the UDP’s leading office bearers accuses this scribe of prejudice against his party, the other takes us on memory lane to the education scam, to the era of worse law and order scenario, etc. Well, if the former lawmakers have been following my ‘bulletins,’ criticism is not limited to the UDP alone. A couple of young UDP’s fans reached out to me stating that the party has viewed the ‘Khasi-Jaintia centric party’ remark positively. Though unsuccessfully, in the last GHADC elections, the party made efforts to make inroads in Garo Hills. If the party addresses the ‘hypocrisy’ issue it might serve it well. To retreat in time, this writer condemned the ‘White Ink Scam’. He also has a dozen of ‘risky’ publications against insurgency in real time. No militant ever threatened me.
Finally, Mawthoh puts the UDP’s‘inappropriate’ James stand in the people’s court. It goes without saying. We only make submissions. The onus is on the readers. They are intelligent. They make conclusions. All the same, hope the electorate is more enthusiastic about the UDP these days compared to 2018 when the party won just 6 of 27 seats with a meagre vote share of 11.6% and a dismal 22% success rate.
The ‘indigenous’ party secured a big zero from the GHADC in 15 contested constituencies. For its long neglect of Garo Hills it could only painfully watch the Congress and the NPP’s neck and neck battle and the ground breaking two seat victory of the BJP. With nothing to show in Tura, the UDP’s manoeuvers could be compromised. Even if the CM refuses to entertain the clamour (has strongly indicated so) the UDP will stick with the NPP, further damaging its reputation.
With its secular credentials punctured, CAB/CAA background, ILP puzzle, indifferent handling of the Home Ministry, MeECL conundrum, the negative impact of demanding for removal of James Sangma as Power Minister and its general credibility taking a beating the fortune of the beleaguered ‘big regional brother’ might be static if not regressive. The GHADC results are a pointer.Perhaps, the leadership is convinced that the party grows only if it is insulated from any public criticism.
The statement attributed to the Shillong MP reads, “Today, the general secretary of UDP says that James Sangma should be removed, tomorrow Rymbui will say he (James) has done well, there is conflict of interest among the legislators and party workers.” Others too have further questioned the credibility of the UDP.
People will give their verdict on self-revealing actions.
Email [email protected]