Lapang pats NGOs, says demands are ‘valid

SHILLONG: The agitating four NGOs (KSU, FKJGP, SSSS and HNYF) on Tuesday received a shot in the arm when the state Congress chief DD Lapang openly supported their views of doubtful voters saying their demands are ‘valid’.

Addressing newsmen, Lapang said people with doubtful antecedent should not find place in electoral rolls.

The former Chief Minister said rampant enrollment of doubtful voters could pose a danger to the indigenous population.

“The fear of the NGOs is genuine”, he added.

While stressing on the validity of the NGOs’ demands, Lapang said genuine Indians, who are eligible to get enrolled in voters’ list, should not be deprived of their right.

Lapang, however, admitted that continuous agitations have affected the whole state as well as neighbouring states.

“The State has national highways which is the lifeline for other states in the region,” he said.

The night road blockade has affected the flow of traffic on National Highway 40 and 44 which connect Barak Valley of Assam, Tripura and Mizoram with the rest of the country.

Like UDP and NCP, Lapang also favoured holding an all-party meet to discuss this issue.

HSPDP seeks amendment to RPA: Meanwhile, the Hill State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP), a constituent of the Congress-led coalition government in the State, has sought an amendment to the Representation of People’s Act (RPA) for protecting the political rights of the indigenous people of the State.

“The protection can be ensured by inserting a proviso in line with the provision of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and the UN Declaration for the Khasi tribals in the state,” HSPDP general secretary E K Raswai said in a statement here on Tuesday.

Raswai said his party was seized with the special enrollment drive undertaken by the Election Commission (EC) which has caused much heart burning and resentment among bonafide residents of Meghalaya. “This will bound to create voters’ imbalance,” he said. Admitting that the party is not against bonafide citizens exercising their franchise, Raswai said, “the mechanism to check double or dual enrollment apparently appears to be weak. “It is surprising that proviso for Special Category States and those covered under the Sixth Schedule is not provided to protect their political rights when the indigenous peoples of Meghalaya are microscopic in population (see UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 2007, Arts. 5 & 18) by making a general rule with regard to enrollment of voters in the State,” the HSPDP general secretary said.