By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 16: Call it government hypocrisy or indifference towards the common man; for several months, the road leading to New Shillong Township was in a pitiable state, with large potholes developing over time. Yet, all it took for the state government to act was the impending visit of a VVIP.
Despite thousands of people using this vital road daily, the potholes went unaddressed for months, with the government showing little interest in repairing the road’s worsening condition. However, as soon as word spread that the Vice President was visiting Shillong, government machinery quickly swung into action, filling the potholes along the entire stretch from 4th Furlong to New Shillong Township.
This rapid repair work was completed just in time for Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s visit, during which he attended a programme in New Shillong Township.
Additionally, a significant number of police personnel were deployed along the Vice President’s route to ensure a smooth, hassle-free journey. Some police officers, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed in informal discussions that, despite the Vice President being scheduled to arrive in the evening, they had been stationed along the route since 8 am.
At Shillong Technology Park, some police officers were also seen instructing media personnel not to record anything on their mobile phones. One officer was overheard warning other police personnel to turn around and keep watch on the opposite side when the Vice President arrived.
“Tell the officer deployed in the building to watch the other side when the Vice President arrives. He’s turning around repeatedly — if he does it again, I’ll take down his name and have him suspended,” the officer was heard instructing.
The police personnel’s colleagues immediately relayed the message to the officer stationed in an under-construction building next to Shillong Technology Park.
