‘I have no rival. Whoever wins, it will be a victory of the people’
Rev PBM Basaiawmoit had contested unsuccessfully in the 2009 Lok Sabha election from Shillong Parliamentary seat on HSPDP ticket. Even though he is contesting as an independent candidate, Basaiawmoit this time round has the support of both the HSPDP and the KHNAM.
Q: You had contested in 2009 on HSPDP ticket, why did you come out of HSPDP and contest now as an Independent supported by KHNAM-HSPDP?
A: First of all, I have come out of HSPDP on April 2011 because the church did not allow any pastor to join any political party. So I obeyed the church, without any differences with the HSPDP. Yes, Independent is the official word used by the Election Commission. But I do not consider myself as an Independent. I am not a party man, I am an all-party man. The label we are giving is that I am people’s candidate. It is the people who control me.
Q: Do you think money would spoil your chances of winning the seat?
A: I thought so but now I don’t believe so because of the intervention of providence and we want to change the concept of money power. Even the Election Commission is fighting telling people not to succumb to money power and that is my stand against money power. The people are realizing it now because we are working for a change. As far as this question is concerned, it has both yes and no as answer. I had said, not only in this election but right from the Assembly election, to reject the influence of money during the election.
Q: As a church leader what is your appeal to the voters?
A: My appeal to the voters is to exercise their franchise with a sense of fearing God because governance comes from God. If you accept the guidance of God you have to be careful of what you do during the election. You accept the guidance of God let your conscience tell you not to submit to the other kinds of influences. As a church leader, I request the people not to vote in the name of religion but to take the issues of the people first because you cannot have a church without the people.
Q: Do you think division in regional parties, UDP supporting Paul Lyngdoh and HSPDP-KHNAM supporting you will affect your polls prospect?
A: I do not think so because the people are wiser now. It is not only in the regional parties that you can find there is lot of disarray today. Congress is not the same today. I believe the Congress is following what Indira Gandhi did in 1969 when she broke the Congress party. She put up an independent for the candidate of the President of India VV Giri who defeated official Congress nominee N Sanjiva Reddy. This would be the result when we get the results on May 16. If Indira Gandhi could defy the High Command then why is the Congress asking its members to follow the line.
If the Congress High Command did not listen to the State Congress recommending another person as the candidate, it is the High Command which is not following discipline. How, did it expect its people and second rank leadership to toe the line. It is not practicing democracy in a democratic country. Talk less about regional parties because they have their own agenda. UDP got in the recent district council elections, one seat less than what HSPDP secured. So it is not a force anymore and by contesting this election it may be also committing a suicide goal for the 2018 Assembly elections.
Q: What are your agenda for the polls?
A: I have already given out my plan of action. Eighteen points are there and most of them are to bring amendment to the existing laws like the Foreign Contribution and Regulation Act, Right to Education Act and on the issues to review of the economic policy that has been strangling the voices and livelihood of the majority of the India population. The Government of India must sign the UN Guiding Principles on the internal displaced persons because it shirks its responsibility upon to rehabilitate victims of ethnic conflict, victims of communal conflict and victims of natural calamities, victims for other reasons who have to leave their home and become migrants and now we have also victims of climate change.
This is a serious agenda. The Government of India must also sign the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous People which was declared by the UN Assembly on September 13 2007. Now, if the Government is pro people, pro-tribal and pro-indigenous people it must sign this declaration.
Whoever rules India, UPA or NDA it will be my move along with the people, the tribal people and indigenous people of India that the declaration has to be signed. My agenda is to be the voice of the voiceless and marginalized not only in the State of Meghalaya but in the whole of India. The Government should have a National Policy for farmers and farming.
This would be new since the National Agricultural Policy does not really help the small and marginal farmers. The Union Government must have a policy for the major constituent which is the rural people.
I would want the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) to be revoked and it has no place in a democracy. The Justice Jivan Reddy Commission recommended for its revocation. The UN special rapporteurs time and time again asked for its revocation and yet the Government of India is playing mute to that. I would raise the issue in Parliament. AFSPA is being used clandestinely in many States of North East India, yet it is not used in Chhattisgarh, Bengal, Gujarat and Karnataka . The Look East Policy has to be reviewed since it has nothing for the people of the North East as it only benefits the countries in East Asia. The Union Government is following the same methodology of the Imperial British of those days.
Q: What would be your agenda for Shillong once elected?
A: I would convene the meeting of all the Rangbah Shnong of the Shillong Municipality and Cantonment Board on how we can take steps to have a pollution free Shillong. I would bring all of them to discuss across the table how we can have an action plan to create a green and clean Shillong.
Q: Who are your main rivals in this election?
A: I do not have any rivals. But I consider them as honourable persons including the lady Ivoryna Shylla. It is for the people to decide who would come number one. If I do come out number one, it would be the people’s victory not my victory at all.
Q: Do you think that there anti-incumbency factor will be favourable to you?
A: Yes, but more than that, India wanted a change. The people of India want their voices to be heard and the people of Shillong Parliamentary seat also want to see their MP doing its best in the next five years.
Q: What are the present drawbacks of the UPA II Government?
A: UPA policies are anti-poor policies and pro-corporates. And also laying the red carpet for the European Union and United States. The present UPA II particularly through Dr Manmohan Singh has more allegiance to foreign countries than to the people of India.
Q: You took the initiative to open the doors for dialogue with the HNLC, will you help to achieve peace once elected?
A: Definitely, I would have to pull up Union Home Ministry for letting me down. The act of Home Ministry has let down HNLC and many so called underground groups. We have not only made efforts to reach out to HNLC but we have tried as Church to bring Dimasa and Hmar groups to the negotiating table. And, today there is no fighting between the Hmar and Dimasa because they respected our recommendations to stop killings.
Q: Can you contest being a Reverend? Does it go against the rule of the Presbyterian Church? Will you quit the post of Reverend to clear the air?
A: Well, we change our laws. The laws are relative and this can be reviewed. I believe that the Church would again reviews its decision made in 2011 as the context has changed. It is not for me to say whether I should quit as the Reverend or not. This would be decided in March 2015 in our next Annual Synod meeting.
‘Removal of corruption is the top of my agenda’
After having created ripples in Delhi, Aam Admi Party has opened its unit in Shillong. Its candidate for Shillong Lok Sabha seat Amerington Kharshiing has strong opinions on issues like corruption. He says AAP is getting a good response from a cross-section of people in Meghalaya.
Q: Is this your first stint in politics? Why did you choose the Aam Admi Party?
A: Yes, this is my maiden entry into politics. I was in the forest service and have retired as the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in Manipur. AAP has been my first choice because of its ideology and its determination to adopt the Jan Lokpal Bill. It is an improvement over the Lokpal Bill. If the Lokpal Bill is a one-sided sword, the Jan Lokpal Bill is a double-edged sword. I have been observing the activities of the Kejriwal government, it has done something positive, showing its true colour. The Jan Lokpal Bill could not be adopted because neither the Congress nor the BJP wanted it.
Q: What is experience with corruption, particularly in Manipur where you had held a high official position?
A: Corruption in Manipur is no different from that in other places, corruption is a contagious disease. People go for dharnas and agitations against corruption, in Manipur as well as in Meghalaya they have done it. But, then passage of the RTI Act in 2005 had helped it. I used to tell people who worked under me to be careful, otherwise they would have to face the RTI.
Q: So, is corruption an important part of your poll agenda?
A: Of course, removal of corruption is on the top of my agenda. One needs a political system that will be very effective to bring down corruption at all levels that we see since Independence. Otherwise, India will become like Somalia. Corruption can be brought down by tabling the Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament in the near future and get it passed. My task will be to educate people in my own constituency about this.
Q: What is your take on corruption in Meghalaya?
A: Meghalaya has seen a thing like the education scam. There is corruption also in government offices and in the transport department. One has to go through touts and middlemen while renewing driving licence and has to pay. To get things done takes time. I don’t blame the transport department staff for this. It is the system. We have to remove corruption through a suitable political system. Now the government tries to shield the guilty and when unable to do so throw the case to the CBI. But, at the same time the CBI is told not do anything.
Q: Are you taking up issues like the proposal to increase power tariff in Meghalaya, the way AAP in Delhi had tried to give free water to people?
A: The election manifesto that we have drawn up has been done in consultation with a cross-section of the common people. We had invited opinions from the public, and we have received a large number of SMSes and mails, giving us ideas. All these arrived between March 20 and 22. Ordinary people reacted, as well as women. Differently abled people also sent their views.
Q: What are the highlights of the manifesto?
A: Among them are ensuring a strong Lokayukta in the state, ensuring a corruption-free government, resolving the boundary problems with neighbouring Assam, good road connectivity inrural areas, protection and preservation of land and natural resources of the state, checking the influx of illegal entrants and exploiters, ensuring and providing good health services, to set up a State-owned modern university and ensuring that youth are given fair job opportunities.
Q: What kind of response are you getting from the people of Meghalaya to AAP?
A: We are getting a wide response from a cross-section of people. Among our well-wishers are service holders, women and also people from the grassroots. Many people are sending us feelers, like teachers, and also the drivers’ union. We are getting a good response among farmers also. We are going to those villages to campaign where we are being invited by villagers. In a short time, we are getting a lot of invitations, but we don’t have the money to rush to villages. We are taking up their issues. In border areas, people are often unable to cast their votes, EVMs are punched in bulk. We are trying to create awareness on these issues.
In our recruitment drive, we are not making any discrimination. Ordinary people, members of other political parties, people from sports and cinema. But, the important thing is screening before they are taken in. We have strict rules.
We have not yet set up any unit in Garo Hills. We want the response to come from the people in the Garo Hills. When they see us functioning in Shillong, they will themselves be enthused that they need a party like AAP in the Garo Hills.
Q: What is your comment on issues like pollution due to coal and limestone mining?
A: There is need to protect the environment, forests, the wildlife and other natural resources. These are God’s gifts to mankind. The existing legal provisions will have to be enforced. Some medicinal species available in Meghalaya are now threatened and on the way to extinction.
Q: What is your stand on the ILP issue?
A: We shall have to build a strong wall to protect our house. We will have to see what type of wall is needed. But, influx of Bangladeshis is a cause of concern
‘M’laya needs modified ILP, visa on arrival’
Firebrand student leader of yesteryears Paul Lyngdoh is the UDP nominee for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat. More mature as a politician now, having been a State minister and an opposition leader, Lyngdoh thinks a system of visa on arrival for Meghalaya can address the apprehensions of the indigenous community, without compromising on the needs of economic development.
Q: You had started in student politics and then entered the arena of state politics. Now, why do you want to leave the boundaries of the state and enter into national politics? What are the values you will try to project in Parliament?
A: I have been in public life for more than two decades, been a student leader, then a minister and now in the opposition. I have seen the politics of Meghalaya from three different perspectives. Now, I think it is time for me to speak for the people of Meghalaya in the national forum. Besides, I have been asked to contest in the Lok Sabha election by my party. I am keen to contest in the Shillong seat because it is one of the prestigious Lok Sabha seats where persons of eminence like Hoover Hynniewta and Professor G. G. Swell had contested and won. I have always tried to stand for integrity, transparency and probity in public life. I think we will have to cultivate all these values, not only in Meghalaya but in the national arena.
Q: Since your days in student politics as the president of Khasi Students Union, you have stood for the protection of the rights of the indigenous people of Meghalaya and to save them from exploitation. How do you propose to further this goal in Lok Sabha?
A: The core principle that we have to abide by is that we have to remain united. That’s why we are supporting the NPP at the state level so that it can win the Tura seat. We have formed the MPF at the state-level, a combination of the opposition parties. At the regional level, we have formed the NERPF, which is contesting in all the 24 Lok Sabha seats in the NE region. We want to make a common cause in Delhi, through a powerful regional lobby. We are in touch with leaders of NDA. This time there will be hung Parliament. The importance of regional players this time cannot be overemphasized.
Q: Since protection of interests of indigenous people is an issue not only in Meghalaya but also in most other northeastern states, do you want to make a common cause in Delhi?
A: In the NERPF, we have adopted a 17-point programme of action. We want to have a common agenda. After 65 years of Independence, nothing has changed, only the power centre has shifted from London to Delhi. Now it is time that the power centre shifts further, to Assam, Meghalaya and such places.
Q: But, do you think that the presence of regional parties in the fray in the Shillong seat can affect your chances through division of votes and thus do harm for the regional cause?
A: It is unfortunate that the regional forces have come to be splintered. To prevent this, after the formation of KHNAM I had taken the initiative to merge it with UDP. But, electorally speaking, UDP has a state-wide presence while the other two regional parties are confined only to some districts. The last year’s assembly election results indicate that UDP was second to Congress in terms of vote share. There were 200,000 votes for UDP as against 60,000 for HSPDP-KHNAM combined. In the KHADC polls, though HSPDP won seven seats, UDP got 8,000 more votes than HSPDP. In JHADC, UDP won six seats. These show that our support base is wider and bigger.
Q: What are the issues on which you are contesting this Lok Sabha election?
A: We want to take up a number of pending projects, like the Shillong airport, the Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura national highway, upgradation of NEGRIMS, improvement of all vital roads and strengthening of vigil at the inter-state border.
On influx, we have to tighten the rules so that people from outside cannot come and vote in Meghalaya. It is one thing if people have to stay in a place for a minimum of six months to cast their votes, but for states like Meghalaya there is a problem if election commission rules allow people staying overnight even on a pavement in a place can cast their votes there.
On the border issue, the report which I had drafted for a high power committee in 2012 on inter-state boundary had become the basis for an assembly resolution, to the effect that the Centre should constitute a boundary commission. It still remains pending.
The FDI Bill has to be appropriate for people living in an area under the sixth schedule of the Constitution. Inclusion of Khasi language in the eighth schedule of the Constitution is also an important agenda of mine.
Q: Your old organization KSU is now spearheading a movement for introduction of the inner line permit in Meghalaya. What is your view on that? Is it going to be an election issue?
A: Meghalaya requires a modified form of ILP in the interest of the indigenous people of the state and also in the economic interest of Meghalaya. This version of ILP would be a visa on arrival, like you have in some of the South East Asian states. This system will help keep a check on the activities of people coming from outside so that they don’t vanish within the state and become permanent settlers.
Q: Do you think that the Congress government has failed to tackle the problem of militancy in the state? What is your policy in regard to tackling the problem of militancy?
A: The current government lacks the political will to resolve the problem of insurgency. Out of 42 years since the formation of the state, Congress has been in power for 38 years. If Mukul Sangma is unable to control insurgency in Garo Hills which is smaller in population than some of the districts of U.P., it speaks volumes of the indifference that Congress has towards militancy.
For talks with insurgent groups, the basis should be an assessment by the government what the group comprises and why it is dissatisfied with the system. Do they have genuine grievances or are they just a group of thugs and bandits? The state government should start a dialogue with one or more groups which are genuine, if they have a cause to support. The state government should not call thugs and bandits for talks.
Q: Your Congress opponent Vincent Pala is your relative through matrimony. Whether contesting against him will affect family relations?
A: Politics and family are different things. We have instances of people from the same family contesting from different parties, like Rahul Gandhi and Varun Gandhi, Madhavrao Scindia and Vijaya Raje Scindia. These things don’t matter.
Q: Do you think the Election Commission is crossing its limits by way of guidelines like paid news?
A: The Election Commission wants the polls to be a ‘dance of democracy,’ but they are imposing so many rules that it is not possible to dance freely any longer. If you lay down in a dance by how much you can raise your arms and how much you can gyrate, then it is no longer a dance but a military parade.
‘First priority to uplift poor and downtrodden’
Richard Shabong, a retired NEHU official is in the fray to contest on CPI ticket from Shillong seat. He replaces the ailing CPI leader Dalington Dympep, who had unsuccessfully contested in 1999 and 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
Q: What is your agenda in this election?
A: The first priority is to eradicate poverty, uplift the poor and the downtrodden.
Q: Do you think CPI can make an impact?
A: CPI is very much in State whether we win or not. We have been working for the party and our initiatives will continue even after the elections. We will also spread the party to the rural areas of the State and empower them with innovations.
Q: What are the reasons that the CPI has not been able to grow and influence the voters in Meghalaya?
A: It is true that we could not make any impact among the voters especially in the rural areas of the State. It takes time to spread the activities. There was false propaganda in the past that workers of Communist Party of India do not believe in God. Now the situation has changed. I am a Christian who very much believes in the ideology of Communists.
Q: The CPI has contested several elections since in Khasi Hills and Garo Hills. What are the reasons for not being able to win any elections ?
A: I contested the Assembly polls only in 2013. Earleir, Dalington Dympep was contesting. The main reason why people are ignoring us is that we do not have any funds. We can only show our works and we cannot engage in money power. Moreover, we don’t believe in exploiting the people.
Q: What would be your action plan for Shillong seat if elected?
A: We can do the best for the people. Many schemes can be implemented for the people. I have the experience of being a research assistant and accountant in NEHU.
Q: Is corruption also part of your agenda?
A: The party is against corruption. We are committed to provide clean administration as CPI is always against exploitation of people. It is an irony that while the services of teachers were terminated following education scam, no action was taken against the higher ups.
Q: What is your take on the issue of pollution from coal and limestone mining?
A: The only aim of the ruling Government appears to be appeasing the voters. The Government recently allowed sand mining to get votes. Look at the condition of Pynursla, Mylliem and Cherrapunjee which have become barren. In Cherrapunjee I had suggested the people to plant trees on designated places situated among the rocks. Coal and Limestone mining has devastated the environment. We are also against Foreign Direct Investment.
Q: Once upon a time, CPI was considered as anti church organization. Is this image still a hindrance for the party’s performance?
A: The CPI is no more seen as anti-church. I teach in the Church. Religion is a personal matter and I belong to Presbyterian Church. However, I respect all the religions.
Q: What is the future of CPI in Meghalaya as land reforms are still a far cry as also other reforms suggested by the Left party.?
A: It is true that land reforms were not carried out in the State. The ideology of CPI is to live together and work together. We will continue to voice our concerns against the exploitation of innocent people especially the poor and the marginalized.