Editor,
As the build up towards the upcoming polls is thawing, there is a “shot in the arm” with the emergence of fresh ideologues that come in the form of fresh young Tonys, Brightstars, Manuels, Mayborns and the like in numerous constituencies. Their new ideas shared through several platforms viz. community common platform, interviews etc. has certainly caught up with many voters. They are promising to say the least, and the fact that many of them have sacrificed their budding careers to enter politics says a lot about their character. We cannot deny we had one of the worst groups of electoral representation in 2018, which brought about much anguish and despondency among all of us. The offshoot of these young leaders stemmed from an air of melancholy that has surrounded us for a number of years now, and whether, these energetic new faces come out triumphant or not on the March 2, 2023 matters very little for many disenchanted citizens like us, but one thing is sure, they have given us “a glimmer of hope,” which we are desperately in need of. We also hope there will be a comeback for a number of the “now well-oiled leaders” that lost in the last polls, fearless lawmakers who will usher in the much-needed change.
Yours etc.,
Lawrence Pherliam Sumer,
Via email
Freedom is priceless! Wake up voters
Editor,
Since elections are at our doorstep I would like to highlight just a few important reminders to everyone who is reading this letter. It’s high time for us voters to carefully exercise our power in giving our votes, by not selling it for “small” amounts of money, because doing so will hamper our liberty in the long run. We may not realise this now, but it will surely affect our future! Let us realise that we cannot buy our freedom which we are still enjoying in our democratic country, for even now we are already witnessing the decline of democracy in our country due to the inefficient functioning and the excesses of the present government at the Centre, which is already corrupting the federal nature of India as well.
To examine carefully the character of our representatives is much needed, which today can be done through various means and modes available to us, before deciding whom to choose. It is also very important for us who belong to the minority sections to protect our identity, for if we fail to realise this, no doubt we will be trampled over by these majoritarian forces that have hijacked our country and in such a case we will lose the liberties which we are enjoying now.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
NPP gains maturity
Editor,
Apropos of the special article, “Voters affected by political dopamine” by Benjamin Lyngdoh and the headlines ” NPP heads to poll sans CM face,” (ST February 2023), Lyngdoh’s excellent article is a wake-up call to the politically conscious to ponder and act. I agree with Lyngdoh that, “unless we step back from the current hullabaloo, the clear picture will not emerge. Discuss and not just through social media”. A media that sways, fools and impacts them by anxiety, headaches, sadness and muscular strain, causing their lives to fall apart or more for throwing life into disarray. As to the headlines, the National People’s Party has taken a ‘sound decision’ that the “new elected NPP MLAs will sit together immediately after the counting of votes and elect a leader,” indicates the maturity of NPP leaders.
Yours etc.
VK Lyngdoh,
Via email
Shocking incident at Umroi constituency
Editor,
I am shocked to learn from reports appearing in the print media about the most painful and unfortunate incident that took place in Labansaro and Nongrah under Umroi village on the night of February 20, 2023, which has caused physical harm and injuries to the TMC candidate’s wife and his brothers- in-law. From reports it is clear that the incident took place in connection with the current elections in Umroi constituency. Those responsible are definitely goons and hoodlums used by certain rivals of the TMC candidate with clear criminal intent of causing physical harm and fear psychosis not only to the candidate, his family members, his party workers but also his supporters. This Bihar and UP types of politics by employing goons and criminal elements are foreign to Meghalaya. This is highly condemnable and stern action should be taken against the perpetrators. Such actions must be shunned here in our state which had witnessed peaceful elections during the last 50 years. Let all of us Meghalayans, wherever we are, disallow and abhor such kinds of evil in society.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Senior Journalist,
Shillong-2.
Maharashtra to revert to Old Pension Scheme (OPS)
Editor,
The election results to the Member’s Legislative Council (MLC)in Maharashtra announced on the first week of this month has ended with a red-face for the BJP and its allies both at the state and the centre for being comprehensively defeated by the opposition in three out of five seats. These constituencies are traditionally the RSS and BJP bastions. And, lo and behold, Nagpur, the impregnable fortress of RSS was also captured by the opposition party and the BJP had to bite the dust. Wonders never cease; constituencies represented by Gadgari, the Union Minister for Road transport & highways and Fadnavis the Stare’s finance Minister were wrested by the oppositions!
On the hindsight of this disastrous defeat the BJP’s think tank have come to the conclusion that the pre-eminent factor leading to the ultimate defeats of the saffron party was the issue of OPS since nullified by the Maharashtra government on November 1st, 2005 to its employees. Additionally, Fadnavis had, preceding this MLC elections, declared in the Assembly that his government was through and through against 0PS given that if the same was rehabilitated a whopping Rs 1.10 lakh crores would have to be expended from government’s kitty.
However, post the Council ‘s polls, chief minister Shinde and finance minister Fadnavis have purportedly thought of taking a call on 0PS as they are convinced that 0PS can become an Achilles’ heel for the BJP at the hustings across the nation in near future. But there is apprehension that such a strategy may just be a pie in the sky as the central leadership under Modi would never allow it to see that light at the end of the tunnel!
Against the foregoing contentions, one of the MLC members has commented that 0PS is an issue very close to the heart of teachers and general employees. The latter reiterated that under 0PS, a class 3 staff on superannuation gets Rs 22,000 per month whereas in the New Pension Scheme (NPS) the same category may draw less than 50% of the said amount. Hence, government is being urged to explore a sustainable formula with which the state government would not have to bear any financial burden on implementation of 0PS. And, contextualalised on the government argument that 0PS can be a veritable pressure to the state’s exchequer, the employees’ union have arguably retorted that as the state ‘s economy grows around 12% per year the depletion to this effect can be viably made good to a significant extent.
Either way, at the end of the day, Maharashtra’ being controlled by the Saffron government at the centre the former has had to follow to a tee the command of the latter. The employees may have got wind of it ; hence on February 27th next they have proclaimed a state-wide strike to press for their demand for 0PS.
Regarding our state of Meghalaya, there is a widespread belief that in the forthcoming Assembly elections if a next government is headed by NPP- BJP and a conglomerate of regional parties, the 0PS dream of the state’s employees who joined services after March 31st, 2010 is bound to be utterly nipped in the bud.
Yours etc.,
Jerome K Diengdoh,
Shillong -2