‘HSPDP clear on demand for deletion of Para 12 A’

SHILLONG: HSPDP youth wing president Pyniaid Sing Syiem on Monday maintained that the party had not shifted its stand in demanding deletion of Paragraph 12 A of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.
“The HSPDP is still very much in for deletion of Paragraph 12 A. We understand the ramifications that the presence of this provision in the Sixth Schedule would mean that any legislation formulated by the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) will not stand if it comes into conflict with the laws formulated by the State,” Syiem told newsmen here, while refuting the statement of UDP working president Paul Lyngdoh that the party was no longer inclined towards deletion of this provision.
“We have been fighting for deletion of Paragraph 12 A and we will continue to fight in the future also,” the HSPDP youth president said.
He also denied that the HSPDP was supporting the draft bill of the State Government which is aimed at empowering the Rangbah Shnong.
“We want to make it very clear that the party wanted a strongly legislation which is in line with the Village Administration Bill, 2014. We have also made our point very clear before the State Government during the all-party meeting. We are not concerned who comes up with    this legislation since our priority is to ensure that the interests of the indigenous tribes are well protected,” Syiem said.
Accusing the UDP working president (Paul Lyngdoh) of cultivating the habit of misleading the people, Syiem recalled that the UDP leader used to make such accusations when he was a student leader.
“People would recall that he (Lyngdoh) had the habit of attacking and criticizing fellow NGO leaders during his tenure as student leader,” Syiem said.
Syiem further mentioned that Lyngdoh had the habit of calling political leaders of the State as ‘dealers’ and ‘distributors’.
“Now I want to ask the UDP leader what should we call him since he is also distributing umbrellas in his own Shillong West constituency,” the HSPDP youth president said.
On Sunday, the UDP working president had expressed surprise that the HSPDP, which has been spearheading the movement for deletion of Paragraph 12 A of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of the India since the early 70s was now taking the side of the State Government vis-à-vis legislation of laws to empower traditional bodies.