Editor,
After the exit polls Conrad Sangma was seen visiting his counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati. The emerging results of Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya were pleasing to the BJP in Delhi although the BJP in Meghalaya won just 2 out of 59 seats. And the home constituency of Ernest Mawrie, the BJP President voted for the UDP. Yet, we the people cannot read the contradictory signs on the walls.
Few days before the elections, Home Minister, Amit Shah declared Meghalaya as the most corrupt state. And in the height of shocking political pharisaic behaviour Ernest Mawrie met Conrad Sangma to support the NPP. Can the two supposedly cleansed (too clean to be believed) cleanse this NPP smeared with corruption of 5 years as certified by Amit Shah?
On September 2022, during the most tragic week of the Meghalaya Assembly dome collapse, thanks to revelation by Justice BP Kateky who was heading the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the MDA Government was berated by the Supreme Court for its connivance with the State and Central Pollution Control Boards, the MoEFCC, the North Eastern Space Application Centre et al for mining and transporting coal despite NGT ban promulgated in 2014. NESAC perhaps with satellite imagery captured the tarpaulin hidden coal that passes without any checks at Lad Umroi. Worse is the NOC given by MoEFCC to Star Cement to intrude into 8.2 km of eco-sensitive zone of Narpuh Wild Life Sanctuary. The State Pollution Board could not say ‘NO ‘to the prayer of Star Cement for 15 MW of Power from the Khliehriat domestic grid. It also did not question CM Conrad Sangma on the illegally run coke factories in Sutnga which are now legalised. The shocking part is that the President of the Coke Unit Association was elected from the NPP ticket recently much to the chagrin of the Sutnga Environment Concern Committee (ECC). We the public are being heavily duped.
Democracy is being murdered in broad daylight. The VPP in its attempt to blow the winds of change to rescue this dying, wretched state, deeply mired in corruption had performed well in its maiden electoral battle. TMC and Congress have buried the hatchet to try and save Meghalaya from the clutches of corruption. But will they succeed to form a coalition government?
Alas the people who cried hoarse against the Casino had disappointed the Meghalayans in electing the UDP – a party that supported Conrad Sangma and Prestone Tynsong. Worse the UDP is blind to the fact that Conrad Sangma’s plan is to eliminate the Party to zero. Why I write this is because while the results were emerging the UDP should have sent feelers to VPP, TMC, INC, PDF, HSPDP etc., to try and form a non-NPP-BJP government. But UDP did not do that.
Unless the people of Meghalaya are aware of the dangers of the CAA and other hidden agenda of the BJP and also the devastation of Narpuh Reserve Forest with Lumshnong and Brishyrnot people having to move to lesser polluted places they will suffer in the long run. Conrad Sangma’s double standards vis a vis the people of Sohra and not granting them a district in deference to the wishes of Late Donkupar Roy is still fresh in their memories. Why is the electorate so foolish not to suspect that the BJP- NPP alliance was cunningly pre-planned? Also, the quick fix electioneering tricks to please Jirang and Sutnga constituencies with ready-made division and CD and RD blocks weeks before election? Meghalaya is doomed forever. But 50 years of existence is not a short time as none is wiser than destiny. There is no use crying over spilt milk.
The prospects of having TMC, VPP and Congress in the opposition is heartening no doubt but with this bulldozing, dictating, elusive non-repentant Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, I see no ray of hope for Meghalaya’s future. Indeed, we have been fooled for far too long.
Yours etc.,
Passah,
Nongkrem
Horse trading in the air?
Editor,
With more news on social media today we the people are already aware about the two HSPDP MLAs now wanting to join hands with the NPP-BJP plus other independents to form a government. Ironically the HSPDP President was not aware of this sly defection of the two MLAs without the knowledge of the Party and has written to the NPP that the HSPDP is not extending support to the above coalition. This presents a classic case of buying and selling of MLAs post election. For some reason the NPP did not consult the UDP this time although they are old partners. Perhaps the NPP could not stomach the muck-raking by the UDP at its coalition partner that allowed its MLAs to hold lucrative posts. The UDP not with Paul Lyngdoh in the reckoning might be a difficult customer for the NPP+BJP combine. Paul Lyngdoh is a senior and astute politician and would do well in the cabinet but what the NPP fears is that the UDP might wrest the most lucrative portfolios for itself as it did the last time around. The Home portfolio held by Lahkmen Rymbui was what was facilitating the illegal transportation of coal vide a tacit understanding with what the Jaintia people call the ‘High Level.’ It will be interesting to watch who the new Home Minister will be in the new government that is said to be sworn in on March 7.
For the people of Meghalaya every election brings the same old crooked faces to the fore barring the new faces from the VPP and the TMC. When will we get a government that thinks for the people? It will perhaps take another lifetime. We can only expect the worst in the next five years. But I would be happy to be proven wrong.
Yours etc.,
John Suting,
Via email