SHILLONG: The headmen under the banner Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep (SNSBH) have asserted that the pending issues related to VABs will be followed up.
In a statement issued to the media, R.L. Blah, general secretary of SNSBH, said the Executive Committee of SNSBH which met on Wednesday made it clear that it was after the delay on the part of the Governor to assent the KHADC and JHADC Bills, that a delegation of the SNSBH went to Delhi on December 2.
On their visit, the delegation met union ministers and others and handed over a memorandum apprising them of the delay on the part of the Governor to assent the Bills and his unprecedented move to refer the VAB to the MHA.
The delegation accompanied by AICC general secretary in charge Meghalaya V. Narayanasamy also met AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
The Secretary assured the delegation that he will follow up the two bills to their logical conclusion.
Concern over delay
Earlier, Meghalaya Indigenous Youth Federation (MIYF) expressed concern over the ‘back tracking policy’ of SNSBH on the delay of the passage of the KHAD (Village Administration Bill), 2015, stating that surrendering or approaching the Central leadership in Delhi was intolerable.
They alleged that there is a hint of conspiracy to end up the vital issue of Bri U Hynniewtrep.
MIYF president Alban Gashnga, in a statement issued to the press, questioned the traditional leaders’ motives in not seeking the people’s mandate before meeting the union ministers, stating that reminding the people of the next public meeting is meaningless.
Gashnga also questioned whether they have raised the conflicting paragraphs/articles/clauses of the KHADC’s VAB to the central leaders and whether the village administration in the scheduled areas falls within the ambit of Concurrent List or Union List.
