Editor,
If we seriously look at the cries of minorities in Bangladesh, they are not just whispers —- they are alarms, warning us all of a growing storm of extremism that might threaten the very foundations of global civilization.
Just recently, British lawmakers voiced their grave concerns over this worsening situation following the arrest of an ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das. In a chilling session at Westminster Hall, they discussed how attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh have become dreadfully frequent. Arson, desecration of places of worship, brutal assaults, forced conversions, and even murders are being used as weapons of oppression against a community that makes up just 8.5% of the nation’s population.
Priti Patel, Indian-origin politician and Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, expressed her outrage, stating: “The degree of escalation in violence is deeply concerning. What we are witnessing now is uncontrolled violence in many quarters. We are watching with horror and shock as further violence spreads in Bangladesh. The thoughts of all of us in the House are with the diaspora community here and those affected in Bangladesh. These are deeply disturbing reports.”
Conservative MP Bob Blackman was equally direct, calling for action against “systematic, targeted violence” and urging the UK government to press Bangladesh to uphold human rights. Labour MP Jim Shannon expressed similar sentiments, describing the ongoing atrocities as “deeply disturbing.”
So, what fuels such barbarity? The answer lies squarely in the blatant grip of religious extremism. When dogma becomes a “sword” instead of a bridge, humanity inevitably bleeds. In Bangladesh, a toxic ideology fueled by bigotry has reduced the minority community to easy scapegoats for political, social, and economic frustrations. But this extremism isn’t confined to one nation—it’s a virus infecting the broader human spirit. From Bangladesh to Myanmar, India, Afghanistan, Palestine, and beyond, religious intolerance poisons societies, transforming diversity into division, coexistence into conflict, and harmony into hatred. Our silence will only embolden these forces to spread their tentacles of evil.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong
How safe is Aadhar?
Editor,
The Aadhar card that we Indians use could be compromised by a single OTP which could be given by mistake or carelessness. It comprises all our details, like address, bank details, pan card details , etc. In India many people are victims of online frauds so what was the point of creating a link , which could be compromised and later have individuals running to police stations and courts. There is a lot of stress in every individual’s life these days. At times fake accounts are created , and the innocent are subjected to all forms of harassment. At times biometrics are stolen and it’s become a liability on innocent victims. Please spare the citizens of the country, if the Government does not have a full-proof cure relating to online frauds. We have enough tensions in our lives and cannot be allowed to be exploited further. I would request the judiciary to take note of this issue as we the citizens of the country are tired of being exploited.
Yours etc.,
V Vashisht
Shillong – 2
Time for odd-even number enforcement for private vehicles
Editor,
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to highlight the worsening traffic situation in Shillong, particularly along the route from Mawiong to Garikhana to Civil Hospital to Laitumkhrah during evening hours. The recent transition of traffic management responsibilities from the experienced traffic police to Home Guards has only exacerbated the problem. Earlier, the situation, though challenging, was at least manageable under the traffic police.
It is noteworthy that this is not a seasonal issue linked to festivals like Durga Puja, Diwali, or Christmas. Instead, it reflects a deeper problem of congestion caused by the sheer volume of vehicles. My observation reveals that many private cars on the road are used by single occupants. Families owning multiple cars add to this congestion, leading to unmanageable conditions.
To address this crisis, I urge the government to implement the even-odd rule for private vehicles, similar to measures successfully used in other cities. Unlike previous implementations in Shillong, where taxis were affected, this rule should be targeted solely at private cars. By alternating vehicle usage based on registration numbers, we can significantly reduce traffic volume and ensure smoother commuting.
Strict enforcement and monitoring of this rule is crucial to its success. Additionally, creating awareness about car-pooling and encouraging the use of public transportation can further alleviate the situation. I hope the authorities will take this suggestion seriously and act promptly to restore order to Shillong’s roads.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Via email
On VPP ascendancy
Editor,
The article on ‘VPP-Just Another Party’ ( ST Dec 2, 2024) by HH Mohrmen is not in the direction of the new emerging political parties in the twenty-first century. Innovative ideas which ignite the hopes and aspirations of the people are very much responsible for the emergence and growth of such parties at the state level. Examples may be taken of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi. Both the parties brought in a new dimension to the Indian political party system with the main motto of clean and clear politics and also survived in the long run keeping the aspirations of the people alive and believing in the motto of clean and good governance. It is another fact that the BJD lost the Odisha Assembly election in 2024, but still rides high in popularity in Odisha. The VPP similarly is the new entrant in the Indian party system with a high rate of popularity in the Shillong Parliamentary election of 2024. Of course, the real test of the party is to be gauged from the MDC elections, but considering its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections it can be assumed that VPP still holds the same popularity in the whole of Meghalaya state. Parliamentary and MDC elections issues are of course different but the philosophy of VPP suits the new genre of voters who are fed up with the old tradition of political party performance.
Minor issues as discussed in the article may have its impact on the short run, but still the scope is wide open for greater impact of the emotions, expectations & exceptions are capitalised by the emerging VPP. The leadership of VPP is well aware of the ground realities with strong hold on grass-root politics. New political parties also often select new candidates for election as the experienced nominees are well-rested by the voters and they later repose their expectations on new faces. Time will prove the worthiness of the VPP in the coming MDC elections and in the 2028 Assembly election.
Yours etc.,
Prof. Satya Prakash Dash
Dept. of Political Science
NEHU, Shillong