Thousands of State Government employees in Arunachal Pradesh have openly defied the State Government’s warning by participating in the ‘pen-and tool-down’ strike launched by the Confederation of Service Associations of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP) crippling normal office business.The Government employees led by the (CoSAAP) began their strike demanding the implementation of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) for State Government employees in the State.
The coming battles for ballot in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan assumes massive political significance as they might act as curtain raiser for the Lok Sabha polls slated for 2019.
The parliamentary polls would certainly have effects of the results of assembly polls as the pre-poll political permutations and combinations, trend of polling, defections and post-poll formation of governments (whether single party majority or coalition) are likely to shape the political future of the main political parties.
Any social/political problem, troubling a region or state for a long period of time now, how complex it may be to deal with can be amicably and peacefully resolved in a time-frame if the state is willing to resolve the issue with a give-and-take spirit. There are some states in the Northeastern region that are long beset with some complex problems which have impeded the growth, though there are no valid reasons for their early solution being kept on hold, year after year. The successive regional governments can easily resolve it, if they desire so assertively and with all earnestness. But in several cases, these establishments , instead of being keen on resolving them during its full term, are seen soft pedalling these issues , evidently for vote bank politics or to score one-upmanship over its arch rivals. This go-slow approach on their part towards these issues has weakened the states’ economy. The standing example of which is Assam’s recurring floods and erosion. The inordinate delay in clinching them on a priority basis once for all has galled many, which reverberates in periodic agitations in these States by different organisations such as civil society groups, student bodies, academics, opposition leaders, professionals etc, in protest against the ruling party governments over alleged apathetic attitude towards the bare need of their early settlement resulting in social unrest.
Durga Puja is celebrated in the temple of Devi Jayantee at Nartiang village in Meghalaya since time immemorial. This 500 Years old Durga temple is located at the hill top of Nartiang village which was the summer place of the Jaintia King whose capital was Jaintiapur.
Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) led by Angela Ryngad today organized a Citizen’s Protest in the State capital Shillong to condemn the ‘murderous’ attack on social activist Angela Ryngad and her associate Amita Sangma in East Jaintia Hills. The demonstration was held at the Parking Lot near the Additional Secretariat.
Agnes Kharshiing who heads the Civil Society Women Organization (CSWO) and her friend Amita Sangma received severe head injuries after they were attacked by a group of unidentified miscreants at Tuber Sohshrieh in East Jaintia Hills District on Thursday. The protest was attended by various NGO's leader and prominent individuals including Shillong Times Editor Patricia Mukhim and R.G Lyngdoh etc.
Angela Rangad said “The state government should take responsibility for its failure to protect the citizens and the police should include criminal conspiracy in the ‘suo moto case’ instead of robbery. Patricia Mukhim who is also the Editor of The Shillong Times said that it is not easy to be Agnes Kharshiing and to be filing FIRs on a daily and sustained basis, to run round the court of law and go to different places without counting the cost, We pray that she comes out stronger.”
Former Home Minister and prominent citizen of the State, RG Lyngdoh strongly felt that the attack on the RTI activist shows that there is much more to the coal mining issue than what appears on the surface he added “There is a need to investigate into the supposed nexus between the coal miners, police, politicians and coal mine owners and it is for the government to ensure that all those who are involved in the crime are dealt with firmly,” he said.
Emiki kurbah, who was driving Kong Agnes car during this unfortunate incident on Nov 8, narrated the ordeal and stated that Agnes is lucky to have survived the brutal attack. He added that it pained his heart to see how a group of strong men punched, kicked and assaulted the two unarmed women. He urged the concerned authorities to ensure that all the culprits, not just the ones who were present on that day but also those behind the attack should be arrested and punished as per laws of the land.
The Meghalaya Peoples’ Human Rights Council (MPHRC) has strongly condemned the attack on RTI Activist & CSWO President Agnes Kharshiing and her associate Anita Sangma in the strongest terms possible.“The climate of fear created by such attacks by the perpetrators has threatened to silence few independent voices to enjoy a climate of impunity within our State” said MPHRC Chairman, Dino D.G Dympep.Recognized that the Police authorities have started an investigation and arrested two individuals. However, the Council stressed that the “extreme seriousness” of the attack warranted “a thorough, prompt and a fair investigation by bringing the suspected perpetrators to justice in fair trials without delay and providing effective remedies and adequate reparations to the victims said MPHRC. It is an imperative that these barbaric attacks, injustices and gross human rights abuses be seriously addressed by the government.“We humbly stand in solidarity with Agnes’s family and community,” MPHRC concluded.
