Traditional heads march against Governor, State Govt

SHILLONG: The Executive Committee of the Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep (SKNSKBH) on Wednesday decided to intensify its agitation against the State Government by holding a sit-in demonstration at the Parking Lot near the Additional Secretariat on September 21 from 10 am till 5 pm. “We request the various traditional heads to join in this second phase of agitation,” SKNSKBH general secretary R.L. Blah said in a statement, hours after organising a ‘peaceful march’ on the road surrounding Raj Bhavan.
Blah asserted that the Synjuk would continue with its peaceful demonstration if the State Government remains adamant on their various demands and also if the Governor continues to delay his assent to the Village Administration Bills passed by the KHADC and the JHADC.
Earlier in the day, over 400 traditional heads representing various Dorbar Shnong within Shillong and its outskirts participated in a peaceful march in protest against the delay by Governor V. Shanmuganathan in approving the VABs.
The traditional heads made three rounds of the road surrounding Raj Bhavan before culminating near the Talent’s Club.
The traditional heads also displayed placard demanding immediate assent to the two bills and also urging the State Government not to infringe into the jurisdiction of the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs).
Taking to newsmen after the peaceful march, SKNSKBH chairman Werlok Kharshiing said that the State Government should concentrate on its own subjects considering that majority of the Government departments like health, education and others were in shambles.
“The Government needs to re-synergize the PWD considering the dilapidated condition of the roads not only in the city but also in the outskirt. It is really unfortunate that the Government is trying to put its hand on subjects that are not under its ambit,” he said.
He asserted that traditional heads would like to remain under the administrative control of the Council which has been mandated to preserve the traditional practices and customs of the indigenous tribes under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.
“We also strongly oppose the proposal of the State Government to introduce a fresh draft bill on empowerment of the traditional institutions since it is a clearly infringement on the subject falling under the ADCs,” he said.
Kharshiing also condemned the State Government for not revoking the Ordinance which has been enforced for over six months now.
“We would like the Government to withdraw the notification to implement the Meghalaya Building Bye Laws, 2011 in the Scheduled areas. We also strongly oppose the alleged encroachment of MUDA into the Scheduled areas,” Kharshiing added.