SHILLONG: The Executive Committee of Ka Synjuk ki Nongsynshar Shnong Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep (association of the traditional village leaders of Khasi and Jaintia Hills region) which met on Monday, has condemned the stand of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma ‘and his group of loyalists’ for passing the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Amendment Bill, 2015 which bars MLAs from holding dual elected posts despite opposition members making a passionate plea through an amendment motion to either make the amendment Bill effective from March 2019 or refer it to a Select Committee.
In a statement issued to the media on Tuesday, the Association said that the chief minister had categorically clarified that there was no mala-fide intention in bringing the Bill, but the question remains as to why the Government was so keen to pass the Bill? If the Government can extend the tenure of the GHADC for more than a year, why can’t it wait till the completion of the tenure of the KHADC making the Bill applicable from 2019?” the Association asked.
“Moreover, is it logical and fair enough that only MLAs holding dual posts as MDCs be singled out? What about MLAs holding the posts of chairman or parliamentary secretaries and coming under the offices of profit? Shouldn’t they be measured by the same yard stick as well?,” questioned R.L. Blah, general secretary of the Synjuk ki Nongsynshar Shnong Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep.
The Association also expressed surprise over the urgency shown by the State Government in extending the Assembly Session at the last minute for a day to pass the amended Bill.
Blah also pointed out the irony as the chief minister had stated during a meeting on March 3 this year in Shillong that the government will not infringe on the powers of the ADCs.
The Association has also asked the Governor to deliberate on the amendment Bill before giving his assent.
