Govt’s past failures forced us to skip meeting: UDP

SHILLONG: Twin failures on the part of the Government, one related to the Ordinance to empower headmen and another, the DD Lapang-led panel to strengthen traditional institutions, have prompted UPD skip the all-party meeting convened by the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Wednesday.
Besides UDP, NPP also did not attend the meeting convened to discuss the new draft Bill to empower traditional bodies in the state.
When contacted, UDP leader Jemino Mawthoh said that the State  Government had earlier invited the political parties to discuss the Ordinance which was a total failure, besides the party was also invited in the meeting of the DD Lapang panel,  but the Committee has failed to yield any positive result.
“We cannot be party to everything that Government does,” he said, adding that the Ordinance as well as the draft Bill has no clarity.
He said that the party had given a lot of suggestions in the last meetings, but the Government did not pay heed to the suggestions of the party.
“If we attend the meeting and if it again turns out to be a failure, we will also be blamed and being in Opposition we have to be cautious, he said.
No leader of NPP could be contacted for comments.