By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Implementation of the Inner Line Regulation with a clear cut-off year and an effective work permit system to curb influx and mechanisms to resolve the age-long inter-state boundary issues, acquired prominence in the KHNAM’s manifesto released here on Friday.
Releasing the party’s manifesto, KHNAM president Pyndapborthiaw Saibon said that with influx becoming rampant in the State, there is a need to bring about a strong and effective mechanism to tackle this issue to safeguard the interest of the indigenous and genuine citizens of the state.
“Despite the fact that this problem has been there for many years now, yet no concrete solution has been sorted out to tackle the same and to put an end to this problem which is a threat to the existence of the local communities”, Saibon said.
Stating that cooperation from all sides is needed to curb this menace, Saibon said that the Indigenous people need to work hand in hand with the genuine non-tribals of the state to tackle this problem.
The manifesto also stressed on the party’s plan to demand from the Central Government to scrap off the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and friendship within the jurisdiction of the state stating that this has provided ample opportunities for illegal migrants to enter the State according to their wimps and fancies.
Furthermore, the party vowed to sort out ways and means to put an end to the decade-old boundary dispute between Assam and other neighbouring countries. “The same problem that had resulted in the killing of many local people, needs to be prioritized and this is one problem which we will try to resolve”, KHNAM president said.
While maintaining that the party’s motto is to preserve and uplift the indigenous communities of the state, KHNAM general secretary Adelbert Nongrum said that the party is keen to amend the Reservation Policy which according to them is a ‘one-sided policy’.
“The policy will be substituted by another policy which will give more importance to the indigenous tribals, going as per the population rate of each community”, Nongrum added.
Besides the above, the other issues which featured in the party’s manifesto included environmental issues, women issues, effective Land Transfer Act, Lokayukta bill, codification of the customary laws, bifurcation of the Joint Assam-Meghalaya Centre, changing the name of the state from Meghalaya to other name which reflects the nature of the indigenous communities, upliftment of farmers, health, education, employment issues and upgradation of the Shillong Polytechnic Institute (Diploma) to a full-fledged Shillong Engineering Institute besides others.
Sidelines: Meanwhile, talking to reporters after releasing the manifesto, KHNAM President Pyndap Saibon divulged the party’s intention to stay in the opposition if they are voted to power.
“We will not offer our party to be part of any coalition government, if one is formed after the elections, though we know that the age-old trend in Meghalaya politics will not cease to continue. But, we will however, extend our support from outside, basically to bring forth the important issues mentioned in the manifesto”, Saibon said.
“Learning from experience, we have seen that KHNAM has gone down because some of its members wanted to join the ruling party even as discarding the sets of promises and plans mentioned in the manifesto”, Saibon said adding that they can push for implementation of any plans if they are in the opposition.
Reacting to queries, Saibon said that if voted to power, they might not be able to address all the issues mentioned in the manifesto, yet, he mentioned that the party in its effort will try to address and resolve at least 5 to 10 issues mentioned thereto.
The KHNAM president also hoped that with the support of the public, all the four candidates fielded by the party will emerge victorious in the upcoming elections.