SKRS :Govt must withdraw ordinance

SHILLONG, JUN 10: The umbrella body of Rangbah Shnongs on Wednesday demanded that the thirty-six legislators from Khasi – Jaintia Hills region put pressure on the state government to immediately ‘scrap’ the ‘Ordinance’.

At the same time, they have also urged all the Rangbah Shnongs in the Khasi and Jaintia hills to refrain from issuing any certificates till the government takes the decision on the two bills passed by the KHADC and JHADC.

It may be mentioned that the Ordinance was already notified by the state government recently and is now in operation.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the 50 members  Joint Action Committee of Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong held in the city after the deadline served to the state government for passing of the bills expired today.

Demanding that the state government withdraw the Ordinance, SKRS president Werlock Kharshiing said, “We also urged upon the legislators of Khasi-Jaintia region to pressurize the government to withdraw the same which is unacceptable to the conglomeration from the very beginning.”

He said, “We have also decided to urged upon the Rangbah Shnongs of whole Khasi and  Jaintia Hills region which is part of the conglomeration and who are outside not to issue any certificates till the Government take the decision on these two bills.”

However, the headmen has also expressed thankfulness to the state government for fulfilling one of its commitment by sending the two bills passed by the KHADC and JHADC to the Governor for his assent.

“With the bill lying at the Governor Secretariat, the Synjuk will wait for some days on the decision of the Governor on these two bills,” Kharshiing said.

When asked, he said that they have studied the various provisions incorporated in the ordinance in details and found that it is not relevant to the prevailing customs and practices which they have been following in the past.

When asked if the Government intends to dissolve the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) by coming up with this ordinance, he said that the main intention on the part of the State Government to come up with this ordinance is to provide an interim relief to the people to allow the Rangbah Shnong to issue the certificates till the VAB becomes an Act.

Stating that the conglomeration will stick to the demand for VAB, he said, “From our side, we want the VAB whether it is of 2014 or 2015 it makes no difference. At the moment, we cannot say whether the bill passed by the KHADC is a toothless legislation. We will be able to analyze better only when the rules and regulation is formulated.”

He further asserted that the SKRS will continue to closely follow up if there is a need to further improve the bill.

“We also take the elected representatives into confidence while pursuing the matter,” he added.

Kharshiing also informed that a meeting of the Rangbah Shnongs of Khasi and Jaintia Hills will also be held soon to sensitize the people on the Ordinance and the VAB.

This meeting will be held after the Governor has made his decision on the VAB, he added.

He further reiterated that the conglomeration does not support any groups or have any kind of affiliation with any political parties.- By Our Reporter