By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: KHNAM MDC Adelbert Nongrum has favoured amendment of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Council) Rules, 1951 to debar the Garos residing in the Khasi Hills from participating (contesting as well as voting) in KHADC elections.
“I do not see any justification that the Garos should have the privilege to vote or contest in the election of the Council since they already have their own council (GHADC) to protect and safeguard their interest,” Nongrum said while moving a motion on the need to safeguard and protect our own indigenous Khasi tribe in terms of representation to the District Council during the Council’s Summer Session on Wednesday.
He said he strongly favoured that the Khasi tribal population should be allowed to vote or contest in the KHADC election.
“We need to adopt this policy to safeguard the interest of the Khasi indigenous population,” Nongrum said.
Moving a similar motion, Nongthymmai independent MDC Latiplang Kharkongor said they need to amend the Rules so as to prevent the other tribals from other parts of Northeastern region to vote in the election to the KHADC.
“I am totally against the ongoing practice to allow the other tribals from the region to vote in the election to the Council. I do not think if we go to their states we would be allowed to vote,” Kharkongor said.
He urged that the Executive Committee (EC) to take immediate steps to bring an amendment to Rules to bar the other tribals from voting in the upcoming Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) scheduled in the early part of 2014.
In his reply, KHADC CEM Pynshngain N Syiem assured that the EC would soon notify the sub-committee to examine the need to bring an amendment of the Rules.
“I know that there is a need to amend Rules considering the emerging scenario and need,” Syiem said while assuring that the EC would also examine the demand made by the two MDCs.
