SHILLONG, OCT 13: Opposition leader in the KHADC Manstudy Nongrem today asked the ruling People Democratic Forum (PDF) –led executive committee to introduce the anti-defection law in the Council to prevent MDCs from shifting allegiance.
The demand came after strong resentment expressed by opposition members over the alleged misusing of the Rs 133.12 crore central special assistance grant by the present EC to destroy the opposition political parties.
Opposition members while participating during the discussion on the Zero Hour notice moved by opposition Congress member Donevan Wanlang here on Friday, have termed the special assistance grant as a “magnet” making MDCs to shift their allegiance.
“The grant is like a magnet forcing almost all members to shift their allegiance notwithstanding that defection is a crime in politics. It has destroyed the political parties in the district council,” UDP MDC from Umsning Donkupar Sumer said.
Sumer also cited an example by pointing towards the empty seat of his colleague from Mairang Equator Nongrang, who he alleged had disappeared and remain absent from the session after extending support to the PDF-led EC.
Opposition parties like the Congress, United Democratic Party (UDP), Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) have received major setback when they were ditched by their members in the last one year.
A total of 12 MDCs, who are former members of these political parties have recently joined the People Democratic Front (PDF), a newly floated regional political party, which will be led by KHADC chief PN Syiem.
Supporting the view of the UDP MDC, Opposition leader Manstudy Nongrem said, “I strongly recommend his (Sumer) statement that the BJP government at the Centre through the grant has destroyed the political parties.”
Nongrem however said but it is the duty of the executive committee in the KHADC to address this problem.
“The EC should introduce the law which will prevent members from shifting allegiance from one party to another,” he said.
Recalling that the KHADC in the past had introduced the anti-defection law, the former KHADC chief however said, “But the law was done away with during the time of HS Shylla (now Nongkrem MDC) just because he was disqualified that time.”
He however said he hope that the EC will be able to again introduce the law with the coming back of Shylla, who is an expert on the subject.
Echoing similar concern, KHNAM MDC from Jaiaw Adelbert Nongrum said that Rs 133.12 crore sanctioned by the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre is so powerful. “It (grant) should instead be named as a “special assassination scheme” or “special ISIS scheme”,” he said.
By Our Reporter
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