Editor,
On March 20 last, the Voice of People Party (VPP) staged a walk out from the Assembly hall protesting against the State Governor for giving his inaugural speech in Hindi. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma attempted to defend the Governor’s action but the VPP were adamant in their unwavering stance by asserting, thus, “Hindi speaking Governor has been sent to the state , we do not understand what they are talking, so we will stage a walk out.” Ardent told the august House. It’s perhaps an unequivocal and disingenuous experiment to willy-nilly foist a one language, one nation policy of the saffron government of Modi in Meghalaya!
The reaction of VPP has evidently become a toast of sorts amongst the significant indigenous populace, and no wonder the same has reportedly unleashed nation-wide attention and compliments are pouring in. Hitherto, none of our legislator has demonstrated such an uncompromising backbone. Incidentally, the President, Khasi Authors’ Society DRL Nonglait has heaped adulation on Ardent in glowing terms. And notably it goes without saying that there are some members in the Legislative Assembly who are ardent votaries of Khasi literature who ought to have joined forces with the VPP but being fortuitously placed on the treasury wing they have had to keep dumb silence. Some have arguably defended the latter as it’s par for the course for prominent members of the treasury to refrain from such an exercise else it could have been termed as mavericks. Just like our ruling party inside the hallowed house of Parliament who are disrupting important proceedings here, baying for blood of Rahul Gandhi for his comments on the functioning of the spirit of Democracy in India! This is perhaps in no uncertain terms the first such unprecedented instance in independent India for a ruling party to stoop to such vile tactics in order to divert public attentions elsewhere from inexorable hard realities.
Markedly, MP Derek O ‘Brien couldn’t have been more right when he fittingly remarked, “It had never happened in the past when the ruling party MPs were shouting slogans to stall the proceedings of the Lower House of the Parliament”
Yours etc.,
Jerome K Diengdoh,
Shillong-2
Kleptocracy galore in Meghalaya
Editor
Soon after the Iraq invasion, Paul Bremer became the most powerful administrator gaining rockstar status but for Meghalaya you need not start a war to attain X,Y and Z security status. Political birds on black tinted SUVs drive past traffic to reach their office cubicles to prove their punctuality. To add insult to injury it was debated earlier this week on the misuse of VIP vehicles by relatives of VIPs and heaven knows where they are heading to. Illegal businesses are flourishing under the very noses of law enforcement agencies. By 2028, the number of crorepatis in this state who would join the bandwagon would put even the likes of Bernard Arnault the French business tycoon the founder, chairman, and chief executive Louis Vuitton the world’s largest luxury goods company. Javier Blas, author of ‘The World for Sale’ gives a helicopter view of how kleptocrats have demolished the ramparts of a democracy. The 10 billion dollar economy in Meghalaya will become an opportunity for those to power to enhance their wealth instead of providing justice to the rural masses who not only trust but vote for their beloved leaders hoping for basic requirements of quality education, robust healthcare, potable water, functioning electricity beside others.
Yours etc.,
Christopher Gatphoh,
Shillong-10
Implement strict traffic rules!
Editor,
In the recently concluded Assembly session, there was a lot of discussion and deliberation on the traffic movements especially from Umshyrpi towards Upper Shillong. I am grateful to our elected representative from Mylliem Constituency who brought this never-ending issue of traffic congestion for discussion. However I am filled with mixed emotions, happy that this issue was discussed but also sad if this problem will ever see solutions after listening to the discussion in the Assembly. Traffic congestion specifically in that area is not only from Umshyrpi to Upper Shillong but also Rilbong junction, Anjalee Petrol pump and Rhino junctions. The proposed four lanes will no doubt help ease congestion in Upper Shillong side but will bring a bottleneck situation in Rilbong junction and thereby create even more traffic chaos. There is only one solution and that is to construct an overbridge in Rilbong junction and this junction is one of the finest places where an overbridge can be constructed and it is also the most essential junction which connects highways.
While in other parts of Shillong city, the plan to bring school buses maybe difficult especially in some areas where schools are situated inside residential localities like in Jaiaw, Riatsamthiah, Mawkhar but pool cars to ferry school children may be the other option. Heavy vehicles especially when loaded, JCB’s, trucks belonging to the BSF/Assam Rifles seen plying empty around the city during the day are obstructing the flow of traffic since the road is narrow and may not be allowed during the day.
Lastly, the need of the hour is for all to maintain traffic discipline and strictly follow traffic rules. Here in Shillong people do not follow traffic rules strictly. Drivers do not respect or follow the divider or the white line on the road; there’s rampant overtaking even when traffic is slow; taking U turns; stopping and parking whenever and wherever one wants. Lanes should be properly followed as seen in Rilbong where many cars take abruptly overtake before reaching Rilbong junction to go straight to Upper Shillong. These are many small actions which if followed and if traffic rules are strictly implemented, will bring a lot of change in the traffic scenario at present.
Yours etc.,
N Lyngdoh,
Via email