By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 18: The Thma U Rangli-Juki (TUR) on Monday demanded an independent and time-bound CBI inquiry into the murder of Hudderfield Rymbui by a speeding police escort vehicle of Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh rushing to the Cherry Blossom Festival venue, as reported in the media.
“This inquiry cannot be conducted by Meghalaya Police because the murder accused belongs to Meghalaya Police itself. This murder is an outcome of VIP and high-level culture of impunity that allows the political and bureaucratic classes of Meghalaya to ride roughshod over all democratic norms and rule of law,” TUR member Angela Rangad said.
She stated that it needs no reminding that Supreme Court directives on red beacons and police escort are violated with impunity in Meghalaya, where politicians, their retinue and family members to bureaucrats travel around in vehicles with tinted glasses, many with red beacons and sirens and police escorts. TUR appealed to the citizens to lodge a mass complaint about any instance of VIP culture and rise up against such abuse of power that threatens the everyday lives of citizens in more ways than one.
Meanwhile, the HYC condemned the pervasive VIP culture in the state, which has increasingly become a source of concern and inconvenience to the general public.
HYC president, Roy Kupar Synrem said the culture of privilege among elected representatives and officials including military personnel is detrimental to the principles of democracy, equality and transparency.
“In recent years, numerous reports have surfaced highlighting how the preferential treatment accorded to VIPs on public roads has negatively impacted and affected ordinary citizens, especially in matters related to public services, traffic management, accidents and access to resources of the State,” he said.
He said such practices widen the gap between the public and those entrusted with the duty of serving the people.
He called upon the Meghalaya government to take immediate action to curb this VIP culture by implementing policies that uphold fairness and equality amongst the citizens of the state. “We demand stricter regulations and actions to prevent misuse of power, resources and state apparatuses by those in privileged positions,” he said.
Synrem urged every citizen of Meghalaya to join hands and stand firm in rejecting the elitist culture of these “so-called” VIPs and their close ones and to advocate a more just and equal society.