Editor,
The recent announcement of our Union Home Minister Amit Shah to make Hindi a compulsory subject up to Class X has stirred up a hornet’s nest in many parts of India. A vehement reaction has emanated from the South, especially from Tamil Nadu , and from several states of the North-East. However it’s no less amusing to see that our Chief minister and his Deputy P. Tynsong have, on the flip side not stood up to oppose such controversial and contentious proposal of Amit Shah. Rather they have stated that they are in favour of Hindi being taught as a compulsory subject in Meghalaya.
It beats me how the NPP, being a uniquely separate party purportedly different from the Hindutva oriented party like the BJP, could champion or espouse such an identical parochial programme? Viewed from this standpoint it unerringly indicates that our present ruling party and its associated alliances like UDP et al are literally pliant to the dictates of BJP in not raising even a whimper of protest over this issue which is fraught with far reaching consequences. In this context, our political leaders should take a leaf out of what the BJP President of Tamil Nadu, Annamalai, himself said when he took a potshot at Amit Shah regarding the enforcement of Hindi. His statement goes, “No need to learn Hindi to prove we are Indians” . In fine, Meghalaya is per se unfortunate that at this critical juncture when the country is currently under the throes of communal tension we have a set of leadership that possess feet of clay and who are lacking the quantitative spirit and the moral fibre and reasonableness at large!
Yours etc.,
Jerome K Diengdoh
Via email
The writings on the wall
Editor,
Deepa Majumdar ‘s letter “Religion must build not destroy” (ST April 20, 2022) is very thought provoking. And looking at the silence of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the top leaders who could quench the flames of communalism, we are at a loss for words. The country called India is in great jeopardy with our Muslim friends not getting sufficient attention of the judiciary. Unless the judiciary acts quickly and effectively, the Muslims would never feel safe and secure in their own country – a country where the Constitution guarantees right to freedom of religion and a country that is built on the sweat and tears or people of all religions and faiths who stood as one during the freedom struggle.
What’s more dangerous is the attempt of the BJP-RSS to rewrite history where the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi is now a national patriot as if India got its Independence only in 2014. And most devastating of all, which only few know is the constant interaction of Israelis and Hindus to achieve their goals, Palestine for Jews and India for Hindus.
We can only pray and hope.
Yours etc
M. Khyriem
Shillong 14
Covid cases on the rise
Editor,
The alarm signal has been sounded as the number of Covid-19 cases are on the rise daily in some parts of the country. Shillong is bustling with tourists who come here to enjoy themselves but who knows whether they are coming from the Covid 19 hit areas or not. It is observed that no one follows the masking protocols. People have also forgotten social distancing etc. It is even noticed that our own people are hardly following the protocols. You will hardly find even 10% who follow the protocols. It is high time that the State Health Department awakens to the dangers ahead before the situation gets out of control so that they don’t repent thereafter. It has also been noticed that the booster doses for those beyond 18 years are not available as there is no stock of the dose vaccine. Whatever is available is only for those beyond 60 years and above. Therefore the Health department should take note of this and make available the vaccines for all who are eligible for the same.
Yours etc.,
SL Singhania,
Via email
National Civil Service Day
Editor,
On the occasion of National Civil Service Day today which is observed on April 21 every year, I extend my heartiest greetings to all IAS and MCS cadres serving in Meghalaya. May they be blessed with good health and wisdom to persevere in rededication to public service. let them not be driven by self- aggrandisement which seems to have been the trend for quite a number of years when they seemed to contest/connive with political masters of the state to own the wealth of the state.
We hope that these cadres should prove themselves before all government employees and the public in general that they are role models in public service, driven by justice, honesty and fair play in everything they do and above all to be exemplary in punctuality and discipline which are unashamedly lacking or disappearing in public service today. We, once again, expect the IAS and MCS here not to fail us by reforming themselves and not be slaves of the system, by performing, delivering and transforming the public delivery system as they are one of the most highly paid categories of government employees and that from the public exchequer. Happy National Civil Service Day to all civil servants once again.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Sr. Journalist,
Shillong- 2