Hek yearns for ‘missing’ colleague

SHILLONG, June 2: Health Minister and BJP leader AL Hek has been yearning to work in coordination with his colleague, Sanbor Shullai, to provide assistance to people affected by COVID-19 from the saffron party’s side. But South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai has not made any public appearance for some time now; this has made Hek concerned.
“I have called him many times but there is no response till now and I want to talk to him because we have to jointly carry out many works to help during this pandemic,” Hek said, while adding that he has even tried to reach out to the close aids of Shullai but there has been no response from the legislator so far.
Reiterating that they, as BJP functionaries, have to work a lot for the people suffering due to the pandemic-induced situation, Hek said, “I wish and pray that my colleague is safe and sound”.
At the public’s end, many people in different constituencies have been calling up their MLAs seeking financial assistance to tide them over until things take a turn for the better.
On Wednesday, several people in Pynthorumkhrah, which is the minister’s constituency, called him up seeking financial assistance. Hek even called many after hearing their grievances and directed his supporters to reach out to the people.
When asked, Hek said that he receives around 100 phone calls on an average from his voters per day and 85 per cent of them seek financial assistance. The MLA added that around Rs 40,000 is utilised by him on an average day as financial assistance to people who are in distress.
Earlier, Hek had maintained that times like this call for MLAs to come forward and assist people undergoing hardships.