With elections in mind, MDCs want amendment

SHILLONG, JUNE 19: With district council election slated for next year, some of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) MDCs  Wednesday demanded the need to  amend the ‘Assam (and Meghalaya) Autonomous District (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951’ so that other tribes are barred from contesting election for the KHADC MDC seat.

Moving a motion on the second day of the KHADC budget session on the need to safeguard and protect the indigenous Khasi tribe representation to KHADC, Jaiaw MDC Adelbert Nongrum said that there is an urgent need to delete the sub A of rule 128 of the Autonomous District Rules.

As per sub A of rule 128, speaking about the qualification of electors and those who intend to contest the election it states–“a citizen of India and ordinary resident in a constituency for not less than 180 days during the qualifying period.”

Nongrum- who is also the lone opposition MDC of the KHNAM in KHADC- expressed concern over the proposed move of a Garo lady to contest in the upcoming MDC elections from Langrin, a constituency under the KHADC jurisdiction in West Khasi hills district.

Nongrum- who made it clear that he doesn’t want to divide the three tribes of the state- said, “When the constitution had given its recognition to the three tribes – Khasi, Jaintia and Garo through their respective district councils, I don’t think that such representatives from other tribe should be allowed.”.

There are some of the villages in West Khasi hills which are dominated by Garo community as it borders the Garo hills districts. In 2009 MDC elections too, a Garo candidate had also contested from Mawthengkut constituency but was defeated by FK Ryntathiang.

Arguing that the constitution of the district councils is for the protection of the tribes and their interest, Nongrum  said, “The executive committee needs to re-look into this rule to disallow other tribes from getting to contest from council’s constituencies,” adding “We can’t allow others to dominate us politically.”

Nongrum found support from other MDCs like Latiplang Kharkongor, KP Pangniang, Carmel Sohtun and others who joined the chorus demanding  the executive committee to speed up the amendment of the Autonomous District Rules within this year.

“There are several flaws in the rules which needed amendment,” Pangniang said.

Kharkongor also felt it will be illogical if people from other tribe who doesn’t understand Khasi language to represent the Khasi tribe in KHADC.

Replying to the motion, KHADC chief Pynshngainlang N Syiem assured the members that the executive committee will constitute a sub-committee to work on the proposed draft amendment of the Autonomous District Rules.

Syiem requested the council members to submit their views and informed that the committee would soon be notified.- By Our Reporter