Editor,
The news, “Minister junks influx fear linked to railway” (ST October 4, 2025) made interesting reading. The Minister citing the affordability to transport Jackfruit was shocking. Meghalaya’s unique topography, symbolic capital density and civic trust gradients make the rail vs. road transport debate deeply layered not just logistical but narrative and institutional. Here is a brief glimpse at the comparative advantage and constraint of Rail vs. Road transport in Meghalaya.
Yours etc;
VK Lyngdoh,
Via email
Why Ampareen was dropped from the cabinet
Editor,
On September 4, 2025 the Hon’ble High Court of Meghalaya acquitted Ampareen Lyngdoh,the cabinet minister who was recently divested of her post under the MDA 2.0 government, plus two other retired government officials for being allegedly involved in that infamous “Educational Scam”, or widely known as the “white ink case.” This specific case dates back to the year 2008 and pertains to tampering/manipulating the score sheets of candidates for selection as Assistant teachers in lower primary schools. In this selection process out of 521 candidates, 246 of them were outrightly canceled! In the course of hearing of this case , the Meghalaya High Court transferred the same to the CBI in 2017,and the latter duly registered the case against the accused on January 3, 2018. However, as aforementioned, the Meghalaya High Court has acquitted the accused in the “white ink case.” No wonder then, post these prolonged seventeen years of physical and psychological dilemma on Ampareen and others it must have been an intangible sense of ineffable joy to the latter.
Markedly,there are some discerning friends of mine who queried me,thus, ‘ lf Ampareen Lyngdoh and others are exonerated from what is an alleged scam, then why is the case of those 246 candidates who had been dispossessed of appointments not reconsidered too?’ Against such a question having legal angles it is wise for me to stay noncommittal, l thought.
That aside, my memory was drawn to a parallel episode which occurred in the state of Haryana in the year 2000. This case known as Teacher Recruitment Scam in which an ex- Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, his son Ajay Chautala an 53 others plus an lAS officer Sanjiv Kumar were convicted by the Supreme Court and sentenced in a case of illegal recruitment of 3206 junior basic teachers (JBT) . Some of the offenders were given a ten year jail term and others less than that. Mind- blowingly,the said former Chief Minister was sentenced to ten year terms, nothwithstanding the fact of being an octogenarian.
If the CBI approaches the apex court on this “white ink case ” of Meghalaya it may be inferred that Ampareen Lyngdoh and others may certainly not be out of the woods as yet! Hence, the Teacher Recruitment Scam of Haryana and the subsequent punishments of the offenders despite their respective enviable status must have haunted the inner circle of the MDA 2.0 government thereby prompting the ruling dispensation to send Ampareen packing from the cabinet in case the Supreme Court delivers an unfavorable judgment against her while still holding a cabinet berth and thereby becoming a liability for the ruling party in the fullness of time.
Yours etc.,
Jerome K Diengdoh,
Shillong-2
Appeal for Transparent Investigation into the Death of Zubeen Garg
Editor,
Through your esteemed newspaper, I wish to express the concern shared by countless admirers of late Zubeen Garg regarding the circumstances of his sudden demise. While his passing has left the entire region in grief, it has also raised several doubts that cannot be ignored.
Zubeen Garg was not only a celebrated artist but also a cultural icon whose influence transcended music. The unexpected nature of his death calls for a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation. It is important that every aspect—medical, forensic, and circumstantial—be examined carefully and without bias so that no question is left unanswered.
The people have a right to know the truth, and only a fair inquiry conducted by competent authorities can uphold public trust. Any delay or negligence in this regard will only deepen the doubts and pain of his admirers.
Through your platform, I appeal to the concerned authorities to expedite the probe and keep the findings transparent so that justice is ensured, both for Zubeen Garg and for the millions who held him dear.
Yours etc.,
Pinaki Nandy
Shillong
