Editor,
Nowadays one sits glued to the TV as those horrific pictures of the invasion of Ukraine unfold and one watches with disbelief the flow of displaced persons that this war has produced; the search for a destination; the inability to decide where to go. It’s simply inhuman. Interspaced with watching the TV screen one however does find time to also read the local news and flip through social media on what is going on around us. Well believe it or not we too here in Meghalaya do have our displaced persons! Well. there is this news and image of a particular sweet, not so young thing, who could not find her allotted seat in the Legislative Assembly! It brings in a sense of déjà vu on how rootless, but living beings, get swept away by the tide of events they find themselves in, or was it, in desperate times a ruse for some chivalrous party to offer her a seat. We only hope that the person described above makes a quick decision where to sit as 2023 is fast approaching.
Talking about 2023 and one is hit by the picture of pointless luxuriousness and opulence of a red Lamborgini languishing and teetering on the neglected and rut infested roads of Nongkrem. So what the hell is it doing there? A local wit with a sharp and caustic tongue remarked that it was to shock and awe the voters of Nongkrem. Reminds me of an angler who sat down on the banks of Umiam lake with his fibre rod and expensive Shinamo spinning reel. He sat for hours, but not a bite despite the expensive artificial lure he had specially brought from the US. Alas, no result. After some time along comes a local with his bamboo rod and Kolkata made fly reel. He sat down to fish and in no time started reeling them in. Our first angler with the expensive equipment was intrigued, went over and asked our local boy what bait he was using. “Dough” replied the local, “Dough.” The fish just can’t resist it since I have been feeding them the stuff every day.” Perhaps a lesson to be learnt for the hopefuls of Nongkrem constituency. It’s the dough that counts not show of opulence.
Speaking of hopefuls it appears that there are some who will go to any lengths just to get public attention and in the process perhaps catch the eye of any political party willing to give them a ticket. We find them all over the place and they walk with us everywhere, especially before elections. However, the best so far is the claim of one such starry-eyed individual that he had been asked by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to help them determine how many unfilled Govt posts exist in the state of Meghalaya. Now why should the CBI, an investigating agency specifically set up to uncover crimes that the local police cannot solve, be interested in vacancies in Government Department or why they should ask some run- of- the- mill smart-pants to assist them is not clear. However, if it is an election ploy to get a ticket to contest in 2023, then all one can say is “All the best”.
Yours etc.,
Teilang Kharkongor,
Via email
Has our legislature become irrelevant?
Editor,
Our Legislative Assembly used to average about 55 to 60 sittings per annum about three decades ago. However, in the last 15 years this has come down to about 20 annual sittings. This devaluation of legislative democracy is shocking. Such few sittings mean legislators are not spending enough time either debating laws or debating governance issues. The Assembly has become a venue for political theatrics and a platform to showcase the oratorial skills of a few MLAs which practically means a lot of noise which signify nothing. No wonder then that our laws are now poorly drafted frequently leading to controversies and litigation (example: the striking down of the MRSSA Act by the Court). That is a direct result of legislators not doing their homework and due diligence on legislations. The other aspect is that the government is no longer constrained by the legislature. Hardly 10% of bills of the current Assembly have been referred to Select Committees for rigorous scrutiny. This is down from about 40% three – four decades ago. Hence, it is no surprise that our Hon’ble High Court is the only effective check on executive overreach.
Perhaps it is about time that our Assembly needs a rule – a minimum of 60 – 70 sittings a year and a majority of MLAs from all parties should be present if they are committed to the welfare of the people as they always declare at the drop of a hat, otherwise governance will remain solely an exercise of executive power and we will see further decline in the quality of democracy and the Legislative Assembly will finally become irrelevant.
Yours etc.,
Samuel Swett
Shillong- 2
Let’s give others a fighting chance
Editor,
We are already in the first week of March, the month of many religious gatherings in many districts. What is noticed is that in this month the PWD is over-burdened with extra activities like renovating the access roads to different venues. There’s some JCB service here and road repairing there. Even the PHE Department would not be spared as it is expected to provide water where water does not flow from pipes. The MeECL too has to work overtime to satisfy the five-year Gods (ki lei san snem). During this season MLAs and aspiring candidates are in the race to repair roads leading to all religious functions and church leaders are beholden to them for those favours. This quid pro quo between church leaders and politicians has been going on since Meghalaya was born and without anyone batting an eyelid.
Benevolent work is always welcome and appreciated, especially if it concerns larger public interests. But we need to think dispassionately for those candidates who actually want to serve the constituency and the people but who would not stoop and entice people by such patronage. Such candidates desire to have a fair fight with the pledged manifesto. Hence let the sitting MLAs exercise restraint in digging into the government exchequer for personal gains only to win votes. And this especially at the fag end of the five-year tenure! The faithful of different churches need not be overly grateful to any politician. The saying, “Don’t ever trust politicians for they shake hands with you today and shake your confidence the next day,” must always be remembered.
If the faithful could stay out of politics and shun especially the politicians from the ruling coalition then we would do justice to the EVM and to ourselves as conscientious voters who care for the future of the State and the younger generation and will not sell our votes for a few thousand rupees.
Yours etc.,
J.Kharmih
Via email