Editor,
I would like to draw attention to a Public Notice published on page 3 of your newspaper dated July 5, 2023 issued by the Secretary, one man inquiry commission under Justice R.K. Phukan (Retd.) looking into circumstances leading to the firing that resulted in the loss of six lives at Mukroh.
The notice inter alia mentions that the government of Meghalaya has been directed to produce witnesses, documents, etc., but there has been no representation from the Meghalaya side. Neither documents nor witnesses have been produced before the Enquiry Commission. On the other hand, as per the above public notice, the Commission has already obtained written statements from various witnesses including the Government of Assam, district and police administrations and aggrieved persons, etc., and also recorded their evidences.
Although the government of Meghalaya has utterly failed in its duty towards its citizens, the above Commission in the interest of justice has now given one more opportunity ” to interested and willing persons having knowledge of the incident to give before the Commission.” The date fixed for such evidence presentation is July 10, 2023. Note that this opportunity is being given only to, “persons having knowledge of the incident,” and NOT to the Government of Meghalaya.
Is this not a case of the Government failing its citizens yet again? Why has the Government failed to represent itself ? Why were witnesses, representatives of the police and district administration not presented before the Enquiry Commission? Where are relevant documents like police reports, magisterial enquiry reports on the incident? Surely, the obvious outcome of this governmental failure is that the position taken by the Assam Government would be upheld by the Commission of Enquiry. I have discussed this issue with my friends and they seem to suggest that there is some sort of hidden agenda to make Meghalaya lose so that when Assam wins, our politicians win too.
In conclusion, I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to the relatives of the five dead Mukroh residents who have lost their loved ones and breadwinners. I hope that eventually their deaths would not be in vain.
Yours etc.,
Samuel Swett,
Shillong-2.
Black day for freedom of press
Editor,
It is unfortunate that the petition by Twitter, Inc. challenging the validity of the spate of blocking orders passed by the Union Government was rejected by the Karnataka High Court. While success in litigation involving the government’s power to restrict speech and expression on grounds permitted in Article 19(2) of the Constitution was always expected to be difficult, it is disconcerting that the court refused to countenance all arguments
There is little doubt that social media content can degenerate into incitement, hate speech and hostile propaganda against the state or its instrumentalities. Laws exist in most countries to order intermediaries such as social media platforms and Internet service providers to remove any offending content, but it is a common principle that established democracies should frame policies and regulations rooted in fairness and natural justice, and not impose undue curbs on freedom of speech and expression. Section 69A of the IT Act, which sets out the power to issue blocking orders, was upheld by the Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal (2015) mainly on the grounds that it came with adequate procedural safeguards.
Yours etc.,
Md Tauqueer Alam
Chennai
Why this indifference?
Editor,
The main roads in Shillong are in a pathetic state. Some roads leading to localities beyond the Shillong Municipal Board have become killers. People riding on two wheelers face greater danger. Their wheels sink into the potholes that have become characteristic of Shillong today. It is depressing to note that governance in this blighted state has turned from bad to worse with each passing year. No one seems to care about the fact that basic requirements for leading a decent life are not available in this state. Politics has become the worst game played in this state and we the citizens are victims of this foul play. But what can we say about a state where there is never any protest over issues of development? It’s only politically relevant issues that give brownie points to political parties that become popular. We the public are dispensable rubbish. We are doomed.
Yours etc.,
Paul Kharkongor,
Via email