Staff Reporter
Shillong, Sept 20: The Centre has approved 2 out of the 18 new border haats proposed by the State government.
This was informed by the deputy chief minister in-charge of commerce & industries Sniawbhalang Dhar in his reply to a starred question tabled in the Assembly today.
He informed that the proposed border haat at Haat Thangsngi in Umniuh Tmar, East Khasi Hills is yet to be approved by the Government of India.
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Sept 15: National People’s Party (NPP) National President and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said the selection of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls will be based on the ‘winnability factor’.
“We have started our exercise and the party is screening a large number of candidates (for the Shillong parliamentary seat),” Sangma told reporters.
He said that the party will give appropriate opportunities to individuals, who would like to apply and contest from the party ticket.
“It will be a democratic process where we will allow people to participate and share their desire to contest and then accordingly we will choose the candidate based on winnability and other factors,” he added.
The NPP chief was silent when asked if the party would field former Mawsyram legislator Himalaya Shangpliang, who recently quit the BJP, as its candidate from the Shillong constituency.
“Of course, we welcome everybody and we have always told everybody that joining has to be not based on any conditions as such. I am not talking about the concerned individual I am talking about in general. In general, everybody joins for the purpose of serving the people and the State and working through a particular party so that is the objective and that is how we would see it and of course, as I said if any individual whoever is in the party would like to apply for the ticket they can apply for the party ticket,” he said.
With regards to the Tura parliamentary seat, Sangma said there is a certain consideration for the incumbent and sitting MP Agatha K Sangma.
“Of course, we have a sitting MP out there and hence, obviously there is a certain consideration for the incumbent and sitting MP. Again as I said we have a full committee that processes the entire ticketing so therefore that process will also happen for Tura also,” he added.
On rumours that his elder brother and former Dadenggre legislator James K Sangma is also eyeing to contest the upcoming election, the NPP Chief, however, said, “As I said all different individuals can apply and we will scrutinize. The process is the same for all so the process will be followed.”
On the other hand, Sangma said the desire is always there to put up a common candidate.
“But we know politics have always been about the ideology and principle of each political party and each political party would want their particular candidate to be there and there is nothing wrong in it, it is similar to what we do as a party when it comes to the MDA, we contest the elections, so therefore, there is nothing wrong in it. And as far as I know, workers of all political parties also be it UDP or HSPDP or any other political parties, all the workers of the political parties would also want to see their party also grow and hence they would want to contest the elections. I am sure that most of the political parties would want to contest and there is nothing wrong,” he added.
If the NPP will seek support from the MDA partners, the NPP chief said, “We will discuss with everybody and then decide. We have not really gone so much into the discussion.”
The Awakening Indian Movement (AIM) has sought the intervention of the deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills district to ensure a blanket ban on gambling at melas being organized by different agencies.
Speaking to media persons, chairman of AIM Bansharai Marbaniang said that many people from other part of the country come to Meghalaya to host various kinds of melas, however these melas have games that encourage gambling with money which is detrimental and have a negative impact on the welfare of the people.
Marbaniang alleged that melas throughout the country are being held in order to provide entertainment to all citizens where they can experience happiness especially for children, students, and youth but at present melas in Meghalaya are being held with gambling which have detrimental and a negative impact on the welfare of the people.
“During our visit to the mela held at the Parking Lot outside Polo Ground in Shillong, the mela hosted various gambling activities with money and young people and students in uniform participated in various gambling games” said Marbaniang.
Marbaniang said that AIM is not against organizing melas in the state, however it stands against the act of gambling that is being held at the venues hence the AIM sought the intervention into this matter.
Dismissing the appeal for leniency filed by former Independent legislator and rape convict, Julius Dorphang, the Meghalaya High Court said the “society at large owes a huge apology to the brave young survivor for having failed one of its most precious and tender.”
Dorphang, a former militant leader of the outlawed Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council, was convicted and sentenced to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.15 lakh by a trial court for raping a minor.
The convict appealed for leniency on various technical grounds.
“The term of imprisonment of 25 years as awarded by the trial court by indicating cogent reasons therefore, does not call for any interference,” a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said.
“At the time of the commission of the repeated acts of rape on the same woman in Umiam, the appellant was about 52 years old. By imposing a sentence of 25 years of imprisonment, the trial court has ensured that by the time the appellant is let loose again in society, his libido would have been sufficiently lessened by age and adequately chastened by the punishment. He (Dorphang) will then no longer be able to unleash his lust or indulge in any further virile bravado,” the bench noted.
The court further ordered that the convict would have to pay a fine of Rs. 15 lakhs failing which he would have to undergo an additional five years of rigorous imprisonment.
“If the appellant does not pay the fine and serves a further five years of rigorous imprisonment, the state will make over the equivalent amount of Rs.15 lakh to the survivor,” the Court said.
The state government would also pay an additional sum of Rs. 5 lakhs to the survivor by way of compensation and ensure the continued well-being of the survivor, at least till she reaches the age of 25.
“The fine, if paid, and a total amount compensation not less than Rs.20 lakh, should be provided by the state to the survivor by way of investments that would mature on a periodic basis for her to receive the same,” the Court said, adding the total amount of Rs.20 lakh must be invested in the name of the survivor within three months.
“The state government would also be responsible for taking care of all the medical needs of the survivor free of cost and befitting a Grade-II officer of the state for at least the next 20 years,” it said.
Additionally, if there is any special programme or working opportunity for the survivor or if there is any late education programme for women where the survivor may be accommodated, the state should provide all assistance to the survivor to lead a remaining normal and healthy life.
Dorphang appealed for leniency by arguing through his attorney that the victim’s age cannot be conclusively proven to be that of a minor.
However, based on several accounts, including the victim’s father, the school headmistress and also scientific evidence produced by a dental surgeon and an ossification test conducted by the radiologist, the victim’s age was proven to be around 15-16 years when she was violated, the bench said.
“There does not appear to be any glaring infirmity in the judgment of conviction or the consequent sentence pronounced against the appellant, the trial court dealt with the material before it at great length and justly arrived at the right conclusion,” the bench ruled.