ABHA ANINDITA
SHILLONG:
Almost everyone in South Shillong knows where Bah Sanbor’s house is. “That green and white building up there,” pointed out one on being asked for directions to three-time MLA and cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai’s residence.
The walls of his room are covered with photographs tracing his journey from being Member of the District Council to being sworn as member of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
Shullai has a reputation of being approachable and one who does not differentiate between caste, creed or colour; the wall has images of figures from across religions.
“See, I am a minister, but did you see any security guard or dog hindering your entry? I am the people’s representative and my doors are always open to everyone,” Shullai said.
Shullai joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2018, prior to which he was part of the Nationalist Congress Party. He agrees that personality-based politics is a deal in the East Khasi Hills, and he was voted to power for the good work he has done, not because of the party he is in. However, he did mention that he joined the BJP because his supporters wanted it. Besides, he was also impressed by the good work and schemes of the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Bharatiya Janata Party is trying hard to shed its image of being a Hindutva party and making its way through poll-bound Meghalaya. On the frontline is Shullai, who belongs to the indigenous religion of the state, but has been trying his best to maintain peace and harmony in his home constituency that houses Biharis, Nepalis, Khasis and Bengalis.
However, Shullai does not agree with the popular image of the saffron party. He seems unconvinced that the party could do any sort of vandalism against any other religion. “It is all political propaganda, did you hear Narendra Modi telling you to stick to any religion? We are a secular country and our Constitution does not tell you to adhere to any particular religion,” he reasoned.
He added, “See, during the lockdown, people were dying of starvation but our prime minister gave 5kg rice to everyone. Did he put out a notification that said Christians and Muslims will get 1 kg? There has been no differentiation regarding schemes, it’s the rival political parties that spread these rumours for their own political benefits.”
He said never has Modi and BJP ever tried to dictate what one should wear, or what one should eat or what religion should be followed. “Eat cow, goat, pork, snakes, rats, it is up to you,” he teasingly added.
Union Minister Amit Shah in his public meeting last week alleged rampant corruption by the MDA government, which the BJP is also part of. Shullai did not quite respond, instead dodged the question saying that it’s for the people to judge who is the most corrupt.
As to why the national party’s stand on the Inner Line Permit issue has been fragile, he clarified and said, “See we are a tribal society and we have mechanisms in place, like the KHADC, the Dorbar Shnongs, then there’s Seng Kynthei, then there’s the government which has the police force, if all these machineries function with utmost sincerity, then influx can be checked.”
He stood on the same ground about the introduction of railways in the state. A deep sigh later, he said, “Why would anyone even agitate for that? It is for the betterment of the state and will create employment opportunities.”
Whether railways will be on the agenda if BJP is voted to power, he said that their first priority will be to educate the youth and create awareness about the opportunities that will come along with it.
Shullai explicitly said that there is no space for a separate Garoland, and this is just senseless political propaganda. The Khasis, Jaintias and Garos are united and no divisive politics can work.
As he went around showing the framed images on the wall, he pointed to one of his in school. The journey down memory lane did not last long though, as he remembered an engagement.
“From that poor boy, I am today a representative of the people loved by all sections of the society,” he says, giving the photograph one last look before sauntering off.