Editor,
The UDP bashing that has been going on in the recent past is an eye opener, a welcome critique and a deliberate attempt to shift focus from the situation at hand to a view that has been fixed on false premises. It is packed with insinuations and allegations that throw very poor light on the image of the Party. One thing that has been established is that the UDP is still relevant. The first article written by Albert Thyrniang was more or less a figment of his potent imagination or maybe an assumption based on theoretical deductions laced with pointers that have no semblance of the actuals, leading one to believe that the writer is only attempting to shield the obvious by casting aspersions on UDP.
The removal of the Home portfolio from James Sangma was then a valid demand in the interest of MDA, and never did UDP demand the same portfolio for its Ministers as that was the sole prerogative of the Chief Minister. That the portfolio was handed over to a UDP Minister was a choice, the Chief Minister himself made. If under the watch of the current Home Minister, things have not changed, everyone and anyone is free to demand his removal. After all, at the end of the day, it is the Chief Minister’s sole prerogative.
To my mind, this entire exercise of leveling accusations and allegations is an attempt to divert the public mind from what is currently at hand. It was not because of the load shedding that all of this has come to be, but there are far more serious happenings within the energy Corporation that warrants immediate attention and action, lest our collective resolve is ‘let the coming generations be doomed.’
The chronology of decisions taken by those at the helm of affairs within the Corporation is resplendent with designs to cripple the Corporation to a point where the only option left, would be to privatize it. In that scenario, you can very well imagine the plight of the State. Power being a driving component of the State’s growth engine, it is incumbent upon each and every right-thinking citizen to not only dwell upon this but act as well. We were only doing our duty and if in the process we may have stepped on anyone’s comfort, we sincerely apologize for that. It’s time to keep aside party politics but in unison cry out for our coming generation’s better and secure future.
Yours etc.,
W J Dkhar,
Via email
Clandestine affair between COMSO & Govt
Editor,
CoMSO is a conglomeration of various fringe NGOs led by a small but publicity driven crazy pressure group – the HYC. Others are HANM, CORP and much smaller groups with about 10-15 members only. HYC was formed in 2014 to counter the KSU & FKJGP and to become the only champion in fighting for the ILP in Meghalaya. They audaciously claimed that they will bring ILP in Meghalaya in 2015. Their leadership in 2014 was composed of expelled KSU members who sought personal gratification through media, power, money and absolute/autocratic control over the KSU (by vying and lobbying for top posts though they were unworthy of the positions)
Although HYC claimed and still claims that other NGOs are reneging on the issue of ILP yet they themselves have not shown any traction as far as the ILP demand is concerned. HYC is not known for aggressive agitations, or their members being arrested or blood being spilled; in short they have no courage to carry out their threats. In fact, during the anti CAA movement in 2019, the President who was scared out of his wits even demanded that all those involved in the scuffle with the police should be arrested. He did this to save his own skin. Such a cowardly attitude is not expected from someone who calls himself a leader.
Some of the HYC leaders are also very keen to contest the upcoming elections whether as MLA or MDC. All this might be possible because they are mere puppets of the Government. At first, they aligned themselves with the Mukul-led Congress Government. The Government provides plum facilities to them with the agenda of pitting them against KSU and other pressure groups. They HYC therefore tries to fool the public by championing the issues plaguing the Jaidbynriew. This is a deliberate attempt to isolate the KSU and other pressure groups and emerge as the voice of the people. When the NPP led Government took over the governance of the State in 2018 the HYC showed their true colour and aligned with it to become the turncoats of the 21st century.
Who remembers the news report that appeared in a section of the vernacular media that mentioned some HYC members demanding money from the operators of the coke plants in and around West Khasi Hills district? Though they denied outright the allegations yet that news set the cat was among the pigeons. The clamour for ILP is now gaining momentum with the undisguised blessings of the MDA coalition partners.
It is now known that they hold secret meetings with the top brass of the current Government regarding their agitations. In fact, a day prior to their protest in front of the Secretariat some days ago, they had a long meeting with the Deputy CM to chalk out the next strategies of hoodwinking the public. Prior to the protest meeting in 2019 in which a large but unaware public attended, the HYC and the Government had a meeting to organise the next phase of action in order to counter the anti-CAA and pro-ILP movements organised by the NESO, KSU, FKJGP, HNYF and RBYF. After much deliberation they decided to protest outside the Raj Bhavan using social media as a crowd sourcing strategy. The methods adopted are such that the public were unaware of who the real organizers were. However, the Government apprehending a law and order fall-out decided to shift the venue earlier granted, to the premises of the State Central Library at the last moment.
On D-day, HYC leaders asked the public to move from Raj Bhavan to State Central Library. This announcement angered the public and pandemonium broke out. As a result, stones were pelted and clashes broke out between the public and the police. During the melee the Vice President of HYC went to the side of the police barricade and stood beside the high ranking police officers to save himself from the ongoing turmoil and from any legal hassles which might later arise. The President himself ran away to the High Court premises and quickly changed from his civil dress to the lawyer’s dress code. Only a few lower rung members of CoMSO were present at that protest till the end.
Whether the other CoMSO associates are aware of the HYC affair with the Government is not known but what is known is that the lower rung cadres of the HYC are unaware of their leader’s double standards.
Yours etc..
Dominic Stadlin Wankhar
Shillong: