By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Ever since Meghalaya attained its statehood, the State has not developed the way it should have and this is attributed to instable politics in the state, Mawprem sitting Legislator and Congress candidate from South Shillong, Manas Chaudhuri said while appealing people to vote for Congress which will ensure a single party government.

During a public meeting held at Rilbong Sports and Cultural Club ground here on Sunday, Chaudhuri expressed his confidence that this time the Congress will emerge victorious and will attain majority in the Assembly.

Stating that the regional parties are not a force to be reckoned with, Chaudhuri said “They (regional parties) are not that strong because after election, they have to join with the Congress to form a Government.”

Recollecting the Hill State movement, Chaudhuri said that it was former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who materialized the hopes and aspirations of the people of the hill state and not some other parties.

“But, unfortunately ever since Meghalaya attained its Statehood, the State seems to remain stagnant and this is due to instable politics as evident from the number of governments we have had in the last 8 assembly elections”, Chaudhuri said. Stating that poverty rate is very high in the State, the Shillong South Congress Candidate called upon the citizens to empower the right politicians for the State to progress adding that what the State needs at present is development in all spheres.

Revealing his reasons for joining the congress party, Chaudhuri said “During the past few years, no matter how much I raised my voice and shouted in the Assembly, yet it is difficult to shake the government. So I thought, by being part of the government, I could bring about the much awaited change.”

“I joined the Congress unconditionally and I do not have any ulterior motives behind. It’s just not my own constituency, but there is a lot needed to be done in the State as a whole”, he asserted.

Meanwhile, All India Mahila Congress general secretary Poonam Rani Wangkhen pointed out that the outcome of the 2013 general election from the Shillong South constituency will depend on the female voters while stating that the women outnumbered the men in the electoral roll. In Shillong South constituency, out of a total of 27345 voters, there are about 13655 female voters to 13572 male voters, out of which 37 females and 81 males are service electors.

Noting the facts and figures, Wangkhen said that the female voters will decide the outcome of the election not only in the constituency but the State as a whole as witnessed from the statistics. “This implies that the women deserve more attention as they will decide the results at the end of the day”, she added.

Predicting that Chaudhuri will get 77 percent of the votes as compared to 52 percent during the last elections, Wangkhen said “Now that Chaudhuri has associated himself with the Congress, he should be able to get over 77 percent votes.” Boosting the capability of the Congress party, Wangkhen said “Congress is the only party which could bring about a sustainable government in India”, adding that unlike other parties, they have politicians who are prepared and who have the abilities to become a leader in the next ten years.

On the same note, Meghalaya Mahila Congress president EM War expressed her confidence on the strength of the congress stating that “The congress will be victorious in the 2013 elections.”

From Our Correspondent

 JOWAI: The Deputy Commisioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Abhishek Bhagotia who is also the District Election Officer has issued an order to all arms license holders in the district to deposit their arms in the nearest police station within February 4.

The District Administration has already suspended all kinds of arms license immediately after the announcement of the general assembly election by the Election Commission of India.

The order stated that any individual holding arms licenses who fails to deposit their arms in the nearest Police stations and outpost their license would be cancelled permanently.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: In a letter issued here on Sunday, the KSU education secretary Donald V Thabah said that since the Executive Council of NEIGRIHMS is held only once in 17 years, the upcoming meet on Monday is an opportune moment to put forth a set of demands which seems deem for the betterment of the people of the state and the region as a whole.

In accordance with the Executive Council of NEIGRIHMS to be held on Monday at New Delhi to discuss

various matters relating to this institute, the KSU approached the director of this institute Dr. AG Ahangar asking him to carry forth their demand for recognition of the institute by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

Besides demanding recognition of the institute, the KSU also asked the NEIGRIHMS director to highlight the issue of unemployment of the local people, removal of two seats from the 44 seats of the MBBS quota, reserved for wards of NEIGRIHMS faculties and protest against the allotment of only 7.5 percent jobs to locals.

Moreover, in relation to this, the KSU had already submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister of Health and Family welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad and in the coming days, the members of the union will meet the Minister personally and apprise him of the requirements of this institute.

From Our Correspondent

NONGPOH: In what could be termed as a sign of ignorance or disrespect to the National Anthem, the general public who attended the Republic Day celebration at NSCA Ground Pahamsyiem, Nongpoh did not stand to the tune of the National Anthem as they continued to sit through out the tune.

An announcement was made, requesting the public to stand upon the arrival of the chief guest, on unfurling the Tri-colour and on playing the tune of the National Anthem. The driver of the Deputy Commissioner’s official vehicle was more ignorant than the rest as he continued reversing the vehicle while the National Anthem was played. It is laid down in the Indian Constitution that the people should stand when the National Anthem is played.

Ruth Dapbiang Diengdoh, D/o Leston Wanswett and Dilioment Diengdoh and W/o Stamford Sanglyne of Langkyrding-A Lumshyiap, Golflink passed away on January 27. Her funeral will be held on January 29, at the Presbyterian Cemetery, Lumshyiap at 2pm.

Firing

On January 24 at around 9:30pm, unidentified miscreants who came in a vehicle (ML-08C-0917) opened fire at the windshield of a Mahindra Pick-up (ML-09-9988) at Pathalgittim, South Garo Hills; injuring one occupant, Minsing M Marak (40) and assaulted the driver, Anil Barman (21). The miscreants also opened fire at a truck (ML-07-0277) injuring one Sanjib Basumatary on his right leg. The injured people were shifted to Civil Hospital, Williamnagar. Later, police arrested Wisilley Momin (25), driver of the vehicle (ML-08C-0917).

Abduction

On the evening of January 21, five unidentified armed miscreants abducted one Arwind Kumar from East Jaintia Hills. On receiving the information, police conducted a rescue operation and rescued the victim from Briwar on the evening of January 24.

Assault

On the night of January 15, unidentified miscreants assaulted one Shanborsing Warjri (42) at Mairang West Khasi Hills. He was shifted to Civil Hospital Shillong where he succumbed to his injuries on January 23.

Threat

One Md. Aminur Islam lodged a complaint at the Tura PS that on the late afternoon of January 15, one Fulbahar Sheikh, Susto R Marak, Ujala Marak and others armed with lethal weapons threatened him with dire consequences and attempted to set fire to his Power Tiller at Chokchokia West Garo Hills.

Illicit liquor raid conducted

A liquor raid was conducted in Polo Bazaar where 170 litres of white country made liquor and 91355ml mixed quantity of IMFL were seized. One woman, Bisalin Thabah was arrested in this connection.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Governor RS Mooshahary has urged upon the people particularly the youth to exercise their right of franchise freely without fear or favour and to maintain the best traditions of peace and harmony during the run-up to the election in general and during the conduct of poll in particular.

While addressing the Republic Day function, he said that the administration shall make all out efforts to ensure free and fair conduct of elections in the State.

According to Mooshahary, there are 148819 eligible voters in the state out of which female voters constitute a figure of 752925 even as he said that there has been an increase of 256445 voters over the total electorate registered during the Assembly poll of 2008.

100428 voters have registered during the last year and the initial part of the current year alone and this increase is due to successful implementation of the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme.

Meanwhile, Mooshahary suggested that the Ministry of DoNER needed to go back to its original mandate of advocacy and co-ordination, a role which suffered because it had been over-shadowed by its project implementation focus.

He said that with the creation of the full-fledged Ministry of DoNER, there is some confusion about the respective roles of the NEC and the ministry. He also believed that the original mandate of the DoNER involved advocacy for the NE region and coordinating development efforts.

“While it has performed this role on occasions in recent past, it has also taken on the role of a funding agency leading to an overlap of function with the NEC and this has become a distraction and it is not clear as to why two windows of funding should be administered in this manner by two different entities,” he said.

He also opined that the NEC should be re-designated as an attached office of the Ministry which would be responsible for implementation of schemes including NLCPR, with the exception of the NLCPR (centre) which would continue to be with the Ministry.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: West Shillong Constituency is witnessing a head on contest between UDP candidate Paul Lyngdoh and Congress candidate Mohendro Rapsang.

While both the candidates have already started their door to door campaigning, not much of an open campaigning has been conducted by both the candidates.

Residents from the constituency say that both the leaders have already approached them for voting in their favour and now the ball is in their hands to decide their future MLA on February 23.

Residents of the area also say that now different kinds of functions are being held in the constituency where leaders appeal for vote.

Offices of both Congress and UDP have also come up in different places of the constituency just before the election.

Congress leader Mohendro Rapsang is of the belief that a party matters a lot for any candidate and Congress has ruled the state for many years which shows that people have accepted the party.

“If people want a change I am sure that people would vote for me,” he said.

According to Rapsang, his priority would be to ensure that the schemes of the Government reach the right people to uplift the downtrodden.

He is also of the view that the votes of both tribals and non-tribals matter for any candidate in the constituency where the population structure is 50% indigenous and 50% non indigenous.

On the other hand, Sitting Jaiaw UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh while talking about his prospects expressed his confidence that he would win by a massive margin.

When asked about the immediate needs of the people in the constituency, he said that the upper side of the constituency which earlier was under Mawprem is badly in need of infrastructural development.

“All civic amenities and infrastructures in the upper side have crumbled,” Lyngdoh who is the UDP working president said.

When asked to comment on the overall analysis about his contest against Rapsang, he said that it is a fight between a leader and a trader.

West Shillong Electoral Roll Statistics

Male voters: 11302

Female voters: 11694

Service Electors: 77

Total voters: 23073

No of Polling Stations: 31

From Our Correspondent

 JOWAI: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) which comprises of Coal Miners Association (CMA), Khliehriat Local Coal Supplier Association (KLCSA), the Jaintia Coal Cement Traders Drivers Association (JCCTDA) and the Truck Owner’s Association has threatened to stop the supply of coal to Cement plants in East Jaintia hills if the company failed to respond to their demand.

“The Company has always decreased the rate of coal, delayed the payments of bills and made unjustified changes in rates from time to time”, the JAC alleged.

“We demand that the decreased rate of coal should be retained as per the market rates based on the quality of coal supply and the bill should be cleared within the 16th of every month”, the JAC said adding that if the company failed to respond and fulfill the demands, they would stop the supplying of coal to various cements plant.

The decision was taken in a general meeting held at Byndihati recently, the JAC informed.

From Our Correspondent

 JOWAI: West Jaintia Hills Police on Friday night arrested the vice president of KSU Laskein Circle from his residence at Iooksi.

Police sources have revealed that the KSU leader, Nangaibormi Sutnga, allegedly has close links with the HNLC.

“He was in regular touch with HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw through Facebook and also through phone calls,” the police sources alleged.

In another incident, personnel of the Phramer Traffic Cell arrested three persons suspected to be involved in the murder of a truck driver a couple of weeks ago.

The arrested persons were identified as Arki Rymbai, Jemnud Bang and Boiki Rymbai all of Pasyih village.

“They were involved in various dacoity cases in Jaintia Hills. Recently, they had kidnapped a truck driver and hijacked his coal-laden truck. On the way to Nangbah they killed the driver and later took the truck to Ladrymbai and sold the coal there,” sources said.