SHILLONG, MAY 22: The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) on Friday threatened to call 48-hour ‘total shutdown’ next week if the state government fails to come up with a solution on the issue related to the traditional institutions by May 25.
“In view of all the harassments caused to our Rangbah Shnongs and public by the government, the outfit shall declare a 48 hour shutdown starting from the 6pm of May 26 to 6 pm of May 28, in the entire Khasi-Jaintia hills if the state government fails to come up with a solution by May 25,” HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement on Friday.
According to the outfit, the state of affairs in the state at the moment is all the fruits of a failed Congress government and its inability to come out with solutions.
“It is a government which is specialised in manufacturing problems rather than solving them,” Nongtraw said.
The HNLC also extends its full support to the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong, Shnong Syiems, Dolloi and the pressure groups who are raising their concerns for the approval of the village administration Bill by the governor at the earliest.
HNLC also urged all the Rangbah Shnongs, Syiems pressure groups of the Hynñiewtrep to come out and support former KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum, who is on an indefinite hunger strike for this genuine cause.
Accusing the Congress role in the recent development in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Nongtraw said, “The change of leadership in the KHADC and toppling of Bah Adelbert Nongrum is the handiwork of Congress agents.”
“All the defectors (MDCs) should be ashamed of themselves, they are the real hypocrites (iingkhong shyllangmats),” he said.
Stating that Adelbert had adopted the democratic way of protesting against the state government, Nongtraw said, “But in turn he was arrested and harassed in spite of his indefinite hunger strike.”
Nongtraw, however, stated that the kind of strategy that the government is adopting on the issue is igniting the fire of compelling the youths to take up arms and engage in bloodshed.
Further Nongtraw pointed out that the sanity of the local Dorbars in Meghalaya, empowered by the respective district councils which have been rendering yeomen services in the society.
“These Dorbars play an administrative role in issues of common interest, such as sanitation, water supply, health, roads, education and conflict resolution. Taking away the powers of the Dorbar shnongs just because of a few unscrupulous persons cannot be justified,” Nongtraw said.
According to Nongtraw, if such practice like PDS scams, Tait Shnong, corruption and exploitation at village level takes place, then it becomes the duty of the shnong to take immediate action, thereby taking away powers of the persons concerned.
When we speak about the constitution of India, the HNLC said that an Extract from Rajya Sabha September 2, 1953 DR B. Ambedkar speech said: “My friends tell me that I have made the Constitution. But I am quite prepared to say that I shall be the first person to burn it out. I do not want it. It does not suit anybody….” Why did Dr Ambedkar use the words?
“Therefore we can assume that the constitution is not perfect till this day. India is by constitution a federal republic, but by all practical examples it functions as a quasi federal state. It has been amended time and again,” Nongtraw pointed out.
Having said this, Nongtraw is of the opinion that the same applies to the village administration bill, if it has any flaws then it can be amended later by a common consensus.
Nongtraw felt that the delay in passing the VAB is purposely done to dilute traditional institutions and make a mockery out of it.- By Our Reporter
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