SHILLONG, JAN 15: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Thursday decided to seek the status report on the proposed amendments to the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution submitted to the state government nearly two years ago.
The KHADC’s all parties meeting also accused the chief minister of sidelining the MDCs of the council as they have not been invited to attend the proposed all party meeting slate for today but which had to be postponed to discuss on the issue.
“We have decided to write to the state government through chief minister Mukul Sangma, tomorrow seeking the status report on our proposed amendments to the Sixth Schedule submitted in 2013,” KHADC chief executive member Adelbert Nongrum told newsmen after an ‘All Party’ meeting held on Thursday.
Thursday’s all parties meeting was attended by the MDCs from both ruling and opposition which include – KHNAM, UDP, HSPDP, Congress and Independents.
According to Nongrum, the KHADC had submitted on April 8, 2013 a list of its proposed amendments to the Sixth Schedule to the state government.
“However, nearly two years have passed; the state government till today is silent on the matter. This has kept the KHADC in the dark as to whether the government has considered to include the council’s views or not.” Nongrum said.
On Nongrum also said the deletion and cancellation of the Para 12 (a) of the Sixth Schedule is one of the main proposal made by the council to the state government.”According to him, Para 12 (a) of the Sixth Schedule is one of the main factor which create confusion and clash between the state government and the district council.
“We want that the Para 12 (a) be deleted from the Sixth Schedule to pave the way for bifurcating the jurisdiction between the State government and district council,” Nongrum asserted.
Highlighting on the other points, Nongrum said the council has also proposed the need to increase the seats in the district council from the existing 30 seats to 65 seats which will include five nominated members and 60 elected members.
Nongrum informed that the meeting was urgently convened by the KHADC in view of the upcoming all party meeting proposed to be convened by the chief minister with all political parties and stakeholders, which was slated to held on Friday but was postponed.
Nongrum said that the proposed meeting by the state government was solely called to discuss in-depth the issue relating to the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule, which is likely to be tabled in the forthcoming budget session of the parliament.
“We want the government to come out clear as to what was the reason for not inviting the MDCs to the proposed meeting despite the issue being KHADC’s concern,” Nongrum questioned while appealing to all the political parties to demand from the government to also extend the invitation to the MDCs of all the autonomous district councils in the state.
Nongrum also said, “We also appealed to all political parties to demand the government to include all the proposed amendments made by the KHADC in the upcoming all party meeting.”
Nongrum further maintained said both ruling and opposition members of the KHADC have in unison decided to demand that the state government include all the proposed points submitted by the council to the centre.- By Our Reporter
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