Draft Bill on traditional institutions: HSPDP skips all-party meet
SHILLONG: An all-party delegation KHADC MDCs will meet Chief Minister Mukul Sangma shortly to oppose the state Government’s proposed move to come up with a draft legislation to cater to traditional institutions.
The decision to this effect was taken at an all-party of KHADC MDCs held here on Monday.
Informing this after the meeting, the KHADC CEM Pynshngaiñ N Syiem said that the decision to meet the Chief Minister was a unanimous one.
“We will also be writing to the Chief Minister on this issue before we officially meet him,” he said.
When asked when they are likely to meet the Chief Minister, the KHADC CEM said that he would seek an appointment with Sangma on Tuesday.
It may be mentioned here that several political parties of the State skipped a meeting convened by the State government recently to discuss the proposed draft legislation.
The meeting, chaired by chief minister Mukul Sangma, was held to discuss the draft Meghalaya Local Administration (Involvement of Traditional Institutions, Traditional Bodies and Headmen in Governance and Public Delivery System) Bill, 2015. But representatives from only the Congress, NCP and the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) turned up.
Interestingly, MDCs from UDP, KHNAM attended Tuesday’s all-party meeting.
However, HSPDP MDCs were conspicuous by absence.
It may be mentioned that the HSPDP had supported the draft Bill proposed by the State Government.
Independent MDC from Nongthymmai Latiplang Kharkongor, who earlier supported the HSPDP in the MUDA related issue, was present in the all-party MDC meeting on Tuesday.
Expressing surprise over HSPDP’s absence, the KHADC CEM said, “We would like to see the HSPDP join the Federation of Traditional Dorbar which was constituted by the Council by reviewing its stand”.