Editor,
Now ATMs are again charging Rs 23+ for other banks ( after transaction limits ) as per RBI guidelines. In taking such decisions, I don’t know whether Customers’ Forums are taken into consideration or not by RBI, but definitely RBI does look into the locations of ATMs in the cities, towns etc. What I mean to say is that in our locality of Rynjah there is not a single ATM of Punjab National Bank; the nearest one is in Don Bosco, Laitumkhrah. Now, as a PNB account holder I have no other alternative but to visit other banks’ ATMs in my locality. I am charged Rs 23 + for every transaction ( after the limit). If PNB had an ATM then I would not have had to pay this penalty for every transaction. I urge the Government to kindly look into this matter.
Yours etc.,
Anjan Kumar Das,
Shillong 6.
Silence of the lambs
Editor,
The rise of sporadic incidents of threats and intimidation by right-wing hindutva fanatic groups in different parts of the country is a cause of serious concern for all sections of society irrespective of their religious backgrounds and faith. Starting with enacting state laws based on unsubstantiated allegations of conversions by Christians without any proper facts points to the deterioration of law and order in certain states such as Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh as well nearer home in Assam. The very ideals of the Constitution that speak on the freedom of worship, freedom to preach and practice one’s faith and the freedom of expression are being trampled upon with the covert support of state governments under the BJP. The irony above all this is the silence of various Christian denominations and predominantly by the Catholic community which holds more influence in the country and abroad. Amongst various political parties it is the AITC that has come out in defence of minorities whenever atrocities have been committed on them. However, various Catholic associations have become silent like lambs which portrays a very negative scenario that whatever happens each one has to fend for himself or herself. It is urged that the MDA coalition which has the BJP in its cabinet and an MP in the Upper House to speak out or write to the Prime Minister’s Office rather than living in denial mode. For how long will this attitude continue and Christians remain muted? Silence when you are supposed to speak up gives rise to autocratic regimes.
Yours etc..
Dominic Stadlin Wankhar,
Via email
Question with no answer
Editor,
The question posed by Phillip Marwein “Is regional party unity over?” (ST, Jan 1, 2022) has neither a yes or no answer. All those possibilities like trust deficit ,fear of being overwhelmed by a bigger party, egoism etc., do not fit into the ‘ may’ or ‘ may not be,’ syndrome. Too many elections had been fought involving these so-called regional parties who go their different ways before the polls and try to unite post-poll when their disunity had finally awarded the Congress a cake walk.
It was the all- powerful BJP at the centre with their state governor that in 2018, had snatched government formation from the Congress despite their larger vote share. And the silence of the UDP and HSPDP on the list of the unsavoury policies of the present Chief Minister like the support for the CAB then (then ordering his sister to help it turn into CAA),his escorting of Mr Rajnath Singh ( now Union Defence Minister) before Lok Sabha elections to Catholic convents to garner votes( and today, he is silent while Catholic churches are being vandalised),the blatant violation of the NGT ban exposed in the Ksan tragedy and recently the Krem U Le. On this have we ever calculated the loot on our mother earth where coal reserves are exploited without revenue generation?.
Then there is the MDA’s shady deal with the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEFCC) headed by the then Union Minister Prakash Javadekar which gave clearance to Star Cement to plunder 8.2 km of the reserved forest against the protest of the DFO, Jaintia Hills. Also, the secret attempt to sell-off of the Shillong and Jowai Circles to REPDCL; the CM’s lukewarm attitude in the matter of ILP and 8th schedule and more critical is the shady deal of border issues with the HSPDP in the so-called give and take policy ( as if Meghalaya ever stole the neighbour’s land). All the above go to prove that they are not the parties worth calling regional, as the regional aspirations of the people of Meghalaya are thrown to the dustbin. Worse, none of the regional parties realise that NPP is BJP disguised in a lone one seat (NPP)uniform!
And the most dangerous idea of regionalism with no thought on nationalism will be devastating for Meghalaya. The state’s health and prosperity lie not in our regional outlook but in the broader national outlook. For the HSPDP there is no worry for they continue to dominate West Khasi Hills. For the UDP as far as Jaintia Hills is concerned, the coal belts will get them the majority as voters tend to forget ( no one will remember the state of education and our SSA teachers not being paid for 8 months or the FCI episode), and astute politicians will not throw hard earned money for the sake of the unmindful electorates that fall for freebies. In the urban areas of Shillong and its suburbs and the AITC with MLAs that have proven their worth to be MLAs, cannot be brushed aside. In Garo Hills the 8 MLAs will trouble Conrad, as now that the hate-Bengali campaign had eroded dramatically on account of the atrocities meted out on Catholic schools and nuns. And if the people of Meghalaya prefer to shut their eyes in spite of all these, then they have to be prepared for the worst, and the gnashing of teeth cannot be ruled out.
And let us understand why 31% votes win over 69%. India is not a Presidential form of government like the US where the difference between the vote share of Joe Biden and Donald Trump is a mere 4 %. Yet we continue to belabour the idea that India is the largest democracy in the world. Also, the public does not realise that like our regional parties in Meghalaya, the CPI, AAP,AIADMK, INC, Akali Dal RLD etc., each want to rule this country, hence Narendra Modi and BJP have the last laugh.
Yours etc.,
James Kharmih
Shillong 1