Editor
The recent video that made the rounds on social media of a certain Ms. Rakhi Mitra, Mahila Morcha, BJP, West Bengal and Social Activist reeks of arrogance and racist undertones. While we condemn the violence at the rally, Ms Rakhi in her video has very clearly exposed in her opening statement itself what she and her ilk thinks of the Northeast in general and Meghalaya in particular, that whereas the rest of her “countrymen” are enjoying their weekend, her “brothers and sisters” in Shillong are getting beaten up by the “tribals”. It is evident that she herself harbours sentiments of divisiveness as she continues to hurl a slew of other inappropriate and derogatory generalisations.
As a “Social Activist” and one belonging to the National ruling party, the BJP to boot, she has openly issued what sounds like a veiled threat, wherein she hypothesizes a situation where citizens belonging to this state are chased out from other parts of the country back to their “hole”. Clearly, Ms Rakhi has been fed half-baked stories and untruths and, in her mind, she has painted the North East and Shillong in particular as a place of complete intolerance. With comments like these, how is she any different from the thugs and goons on the street driven by the same mentality. We expect an activist and especially one belonging to a National party to exercise more control and restraint while putting across her sentiments. Citizens of Shillong have time and again condemned and spoken out against atrocities towards any section of people, not only in this state but those happening across the country. We are as much citizens of this country and we are appalled at your divisive rhetoric in the name of condemning the incident on October 28, 2022. We would like to appeal to our fellow countrymen not to paint us all with the same brush for we are more than what the media conveniently chooses to air of us on their news channels.
Yours etc
Balaki Tariang
Shillong
Enough of lawlessness
Editor,
So much has already been expressed by many on the mindless mayhem unleashed by hoodlums on defenceless people in Shillong, on Friday last and yet we have learned nothing from such ugly communal encounters which have occurred periodically in the past. The authorities who were lackadaisical in their approach to the entire bigoted savage attacks must be held accountable and justice must be meted out to the victims.
During this entire tenure of 4 years 8 months of this MDA govt, no heads rolled , no matter what the blunders/ scams were. Such is the utter lack of accountability and responsibility. The Govt gets tight lipped and nothing of substance is said to address the communal issue. The District Administration failed miserably to respond assertively on the ‘bigoted unemployable youths’ who went berserk on people who have nothing to do with the failures of successive governments .
The Meghalaya Police in Shillong failed to come to grips on the issue and they threw their hands up. Every right thinking Meghalayan must condemn such ugly communal incidents and there’s no justification whatsoever to vent one’s frustrations on the non- tribals and innocent tribals of Shillong. The MDA govt resembles ‘Pontius Pilate’ who has washed its hands off and allowed innocents to be victimised yet again.
The CM and his cabinet had tom-tommed on receiving 15 lakh tourists this year, but for this ‘Golden Goose’ to be kept alive, law and order must be maintained at all cost. The Home Minister had resigned once, many believe now on hindsight that the resignation should have been accepted. Unfortunately there are not many to choose from. Such is the paucity of leaders in the MDA .
The AITC too must condemn the brutal attacks that happened last Friday and show to all Meghalayans that it’s ready to catch the bull by the horns. The AITC must speak up for all the people of Meghalaya to be taken seriously. Meghalaya has another four months to go before the next elections and law and order is paramount. No more pussyfooting on such an important issue.
Meghalayans are tired of such xenophobic games and are looking forward to real leadership so that we play catch-up doubly fast and find our rightful place among the leading states of India.
Yours etc.,
Tyrone D’Brass
Tura
Where is the rule of law in Meghalaya?
Editor,
I really don’t understand the meaning of “Pressure Groups” of Meghalaya! This terminology is so confusing to me. If we go back to 1992, there were disturbances in Shillong and if I am not wrong, the then CM of Meghalaya ultimately blamed ‘a pressure group’ for creating the communal tensions in Shillong. The incidents of October 28, 2022 in Shillong remind us of past cases of people being assaulted whenever some rally or the other ia called by the so-called “pressure groups.” Is this an attempt to intimidate the non-tribals so that they can no longer raise their voices or what?
Reports say, on that day the Police force had no permission to control the unruly crowd. If so, then may we ask why? Will the Police Chief and the Home Minister reply? I wish to ask why is there so much hatred? ” The innocent people on the streets were assaulted for no fault of theirs and not a single arrests has been made as yet. Where is the justice? Who do we report to? Where do we go for justice?
Is this, ‘Azadi Ki Amrit Mohatsov?’ that India is celebrating?
Yours etc.,
Anjan Kumar Das,
Shillong 6.
Privatisation of Festivals
Editor,
The Government should no longer support these so-called Festivals which are all in the name of tourism promotion and attraction. These festivals benefit only a handful of individuals and few Department Officials of the Govt of Meghalaya. I witnessed the recently concluded so-called the two days’ Tri Hills Festival at the State Central Library where food stalls sold their items at extravagant prices. People had to spend Rs 180 for a single piece of “Putharo” and 3 spoons of “Dohjem”-which would have cost Rs 30 to Rs 40 on all normal days. What I am trying to say is that the Organising Government Dept should monitor the rates of each and every item as the stall owners are just looting the public all in the name of indigenous food and what not. The festival was for a good cause though as the art exhibition, music was there to be enjoyed and appreciated by the public. But again, how much did the Government had to actually spend for this spectacle?. Well that’s a very difficult question.
The School Teachers have had to fight for their livelihood by protesting in the streets for days while this Government turns a blind eye to their plight. The youth are unemployed and frustrated, roads are full of potholes etc. So, I feel that the Government should set their priorities right first. Whether to help the teachers, the youths of the State, improve road conditions in rural and urban areas or organise and spend crores of rupees for some 2 or 3 day festival. The Cherry Blossom Festival is another upcoming festival where crores of money will be spent to satisfy a few greedy individuals.
I feel the public should wake up and boycott all these Government financed festivals and should instead support the privatisation of these so-called new and happening festivals of the State. Crores of rupees will be saved by the Government. In fact the Government will also earn some revenue. After privatisation, the stall owner can sell his a single piece of “Putharo” and 3 spoons of “Dohjem” for Rs 500…I won’t complain.
Yours etc.,
Daminot C Swer
Via email