Editor,
Shillong Jottings has always been very interesting to read for me and this week’s “I am a King,” is not only interesting but sarcasm at it’s best. This is actually what the scenario is few months before elections. As citizens of the state, to be provided with proper health care, drinking water, electricity, quality education, etc are but just a few of the aspirations of the common people of the state. The Conrad Sangma led, MDA government had seen a number of upheavals from the Them Metor issue, the Cheristerfield police encounter, the Assembly Dome collapse, the latest being the Mukroh massacre, and few more. Alongside the negatives there have been positive changes but these pale into insignificance when compared to the scams that have blown on the face of this Government.
Now that we are a few months away from exercising our franchise, sitting MLAs, MDCs and fresh faces are already at work. While those in government are seen busy laying foundation stones though we may never know if any of these projects would ever kick-start leave alone be completed, the new aspiring candidates are preparing themselves vehemently to join the band wagon. Gifts, cash and different kinds of aids are being extended with many more to come until it’s time for us to vote. Once again after five years we will be filled with promises that will never be fulfilled.
True to the caption, we the people will actually be kings and queens. Our every wish will be granted and wants fulfilled before the elections. We the people who suffer from short term memory loss will be so obliged that we will show our loyalty by voting for the candidate who gives us gifts and money. At the time of casting our votes, we will simply forget about how our representatives have failed us. We will fail to bring to mind that these are the same people who had forsaken all our hopes once in power. Unresolved issues will remain unresolved, the common people will swoon into the same abyss of hopelessness and inadequacies while the five years in power for the chosen ones will mean an installation and an accumulation of wealth and a fulfilment of personal desires and aspirations.
Once in power, our representatives will bask in the light and warmth of power and money while we the people will as always be pushed to the periphery with all our hopes dashed to the ground. This has been history repeating itself every five years. What is left to be watchful of are the new aspirants, whose resumè appear to be very impressive. Some are aspirants who seem to project an earnestness to work for the cause of the people, aspirants who have a clear vision and a roadmap for the development and wellbeing of the state and its subjects. Should they then be given a chance? Should we pin our hopes on these new faces? Though there is this fear that what if they will ultimately turn out to be no different from their seniors. The voter is left in a dilemma of sorts for a choice has to be made but the humungous question is who?
As a citizen of the state and one who will have to exercise my voting rights, I dream of a Meghalaya free from corruption, nepotism, favouritism; a Meghalaya that prioritises the citizens, a Meghalaya that will be a safe haven for all; a Meghalaya that will have the best health care, road connectivity, drinking water, electricity, education. Therefore, who we choose matters. Let us choose wisely and correctly for a good present and a better tomorrow. Let us hope that the winners will put aside all personal gain and step into the shoes of those who have voted for them, feel the day to day life of the less fortunate and work towards making their lives better, bring overall development of the state. Is this too much to ask for?
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email
Give the youth a chance
Editor,
I am a young voter in Meghalaya and will be casting my vote for the second them in February 2023. Frankly speaking every day we discuss politics among college peers and are sick and tired with the shenanigans of the present stock of politicians. They have taken us for granted because large swathes of Meghalaya are still populated by literate but uneducated, uninformed people who are happy to grab the Rs 2000 or 5000 shelled out by politicians weeks before the voting day. All this makes us frustrated and angry yet there is so little we can do to bring change. In my own way I am going to campaign for the new faces in all constituencies. We are so tired of the same, old tired, cunning and horribly corrupt faces. Meghalaya deserves better than this. Quite a number of my peers are so fed up with this whole ugly 5-year game of musical chairs that they intend to press the NOTA button but how does that help? The person who gets the most votes will still win.
I feel that we the youth now need to come out and campaign for those new faces that have come forward and have been frank enough to say that they don’t have money to pay the voters or the umpteen football clubs and cricket clubs and musical clubs that appear like mushroom before the elections with each one needing sponsorship for their games. It has become very easy for such groups to blackmail the political contenders and the candidates have to beg, borrow and steal to be able to bribe these clubs just to get their votes. How shameless these youth clubs have become! At this rate where will Meghalaya find itself 30 years hence? In the pits? In the dark dungeons of poverty, more malnutrition, more school drop-outs, more drug addicts, more teenage mothers and landlessness to boot! Do the present set of politicians care about all these critical matters? No, they don’t. Some of them are amassing so much wealth before they leave the country and settle outside because that’s how they have brought up their kids. If we can’t see this, we are blind and there is no person more difficult to cure than one who does not want to see.
Yours etc.,
Primrose Mawlong,
Via email