KHNAM, NPP attend all party meet on headmen issue; Congress, HSPDP, NCP stay away
SHILLONG: The United Democratic Party (UDP) convened an all party meeting on Thursday where they urged the State Government to convene a special session of the Assembly to discuss the issue of the empowerment of traditional heads.
The all party meeting was attended by two representatives each from the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) and the Nationalist People’s Party (NPP). The Congress, NCP, CPI and HSPDP, however, skipped the meeting.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting UDP working president Bindo Lanong said, “We unanimously oppose the High Court ruling of January 13. The High Court should not have directed the State government to frame laws relating to traditional institutions as the Sixth Schedule has vested the power to frame laws for the traditional institutions upon the autonomous district councils.”
Stating that the High Court has no jurisdiction over the issues meant for empowering village chiefs, Lanong urged the State government to distance itself from framing rules for the traditional heads.
“Ever since the establishment of ADCs in 1942, the Raid, Hima and the village chiefs were under the supervision of the district councils and none of the Raid, Hima or the village chiefs have complained. It is a different subject matter altogether and the government should leave it to the knowledge of the district councils,” Lanong said.
He also questioned the disappearance of the Meghalaya Grassroots Institutions Governance Act, 2015, and expressed concern that the State government will come up with a similar bill if it is allowed to frame laws for the traditional institutions.
In connection with the pending assent to the Village Administration Bill of the KHADC, the meeting urged Governor V. Shanmuganthan to give his assent at the earliest as he had done with the VAB of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, Lanong stated.
At the same time, he called for unity among the three ADCs of the State as well as the headmen and village chiefs to review the chaotic situation in the State arising out of the headmen issue.
Opposing the Government’s proposed decision to amend the Meghalaya Services (Conduct) Rules, Lanong said the presence of government employees is a boon to any community or organization as their contribution will be valuable especially in places where there is not much development.
Replying to a query on the absence of some political parties from the meeting, Lanong expressed disappointment and said, “Unity is power but they had informed that they would not be able to attend.”