East, West Jaintia hills oppose delimitation

Shillong, December 12: Ngos and traditional heads of West and East Jaintia hills districts said they would be forced to approach the court, if proposed MDC Delimitation Bill passed by the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) recently is not ‘put on hold’.

The conglomerate of ngos and traditional heads alleged that the Delimitation bill passed by the JHADC violates the true essence and spirit for delimitation  and was passed through arbitrary, irrational and biased manner to suit the ‘political-interest’ of the sitting MDCs.

Protesting against the bill, a joint delegation of seven ngos and headmen from different villages met Meghalaya governor KK Paul and sought his intervention to put the implementation of the bill on hold.

“We plead before you not to allow the Delimitation Bill, 2013 to be passed in its present form as apparently it lacks and totally fails prima facie spirit of Delimitation and is much against the interest of the public,” the delegation said in a letter to Paul submitted to him on Thursday.

Since election is only a couple months away, the conglomerate urged Paul to advice and direct the government that the upcoming elections be conducted in line with the previous constituencies and send back the Delimitation Bill, 2013.

The letter claimed that the Bill still needs further deliberation and discussion on the floor of the house so as to eliminate any viable dissent and discontent from among the general public who are most likely to be affected by any change within the constituencies falling under the jurisdiction of the JHADC.

The JHADC Delimitation Bill, 2013 was passed on November 12 after a series of public hearings were held by the council’s constituted Delimitation Committee. Sources informed that the Bill however is yet to get the approval from the state government.

“Majority of the people attending the public hearings have strongly opposed and objected against the arbitrary, irrational, unconventional and biased manner in which the delimitation bill of JHADC was prepared,” Jaintia People Movement Forum (JPMF) president Mabeitlang Pohsngap told reporters during a news conference.

Alleging that the delimitation bill was passed in a hasty and haphazard manner and is also against the wish of the people, Pohsngap  said, “As per the draft delimitation bill, it is found that there is no geographical view point where some villages are forced to be attached with a constituency which does fall under a certain area or region. This would no doubt affect the people and it does not make any sense for them as well.”

Pohsngap  alleged that the Bill had been brought before the public with dictatorial stance whereby no deliberation or objections were permitted or allowed to be voiced. He said it appears that the delimitation Bill was done only to suit the selfish intentions of the sittings MDCs of the ruling party and executive members of the council.”

Over 12 to 15 villages from the two districts – East and West Jaintia hills district are likely to be affected if the new delimitation Bill is implemented.

Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong (RKRS) from West Jaintia Hills president Kolmen Pohshna said, “We demand that the state government should withhold the implementation of the Delimitation Bill as it would affect many villages of the region.” He said the traditional heads along with the ngos  are determine to oppose the Bill and would even consider knocking the court’s door if the matter is not addressed by the government.- By Our Reporter