Pyngshngainlang Syiem (or better known as PN Syiem), the chief executive member of the Khasi Hills AutonoPyngshngainlang Syiem (or better known as PN Syiem), the chief executive member of the Khasi Hills Autono mous District Council and leader of the People’s Democratic Forum coalition, says he is not against the Congress as a party but opposed to the style of functioning of the Congress-led MUA government in Meghalaya.Syiem, who was suspended from the Congress in 2015 for alleged “anti-party” activities, is certain that the Congress will not form the government in the state next year because he feels that the Mukul Sangma government has failed on all fronts, particularly in regard to “lack of policies” in sectors such as education, tourism and healthcare.The 44-year-old MLA from Mawsynram claimed he was made a “victim” because he had opposed the state government on various issues, particularly the Bill to remove persons holding dual posts, and that the state government was hell-bent on removing him from the post of CEM at the council.The KHADC chief (now in his second term), who has also been critical of the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority’s (MUDA) building bylaws being extended to the rural areas, says he will always put people over party and that the MUDA bylaws had unnecessarily imposed regulations on the people who had owned land in their villages.Saurav Bora caught up with Syiem at the KHADC office in Garikhana for an exclusive interview.
Here are the excerpts of the interview:
ST: Why are you critical of the Congress-led MUA government?
Syiem: First of all, I want to make clear that what I am going to say is in my personal capacity as I am still a suspended Congress MLA. Well…I have never been against the Congress as a party but I am against the style of functioning of the incumbent government. It has failed to come up with policies in various sectors, be it in education, tourism, power or healthcare. How can I support a team that lacks leadership and initiative? …For the progress of the state we need collective responsibility…the government is not open to ideas. It must understand how to work hand in hand with the district councils.
ST: You had challenged the petition in the Court against MLAs holding dual posts and won. What do you have to say to that?
Syiem: See…as KHADC chairman, I am here to serve the people…so why should I succumb to pressure (to relinquish my post)… Article 191 (1) (a) of the Constitution states that a person can be disqualified for holding an office of profit under the state)…However, my post is under the district council, which is outside the purview of the state or union, and thus not an office of profit. Mukul Sangma government tried hard to remove me and had in this regard brought about an amendment. But it failed. The Governor took up the issue and thereafter the Meghalaya High Court upheld his order that stated that I did not attract disqualification under Article 191 (1) (a).
ST: You were also critical of the MUDA building bylaws being extended to the rural areas. Why?
Syiem: See…you must understand the uniqueness of the people here in Meghalaya. The land belongs to the people. Once the laws are enforced, they have to pay house tax and acquire building permission, occupancy certificate… So, a lot of regulations are being unnecessarily imposed on the village people. We are not against the safety of the buildings but against the system…Why not adopt methods that are people-friendly? The village dorbar, elakas and district councils can play a role which is in sync with the building bylaws.
ST: What is the reason for your suspension from the Congress?
Syiem: (Smiles)….The government had come out with notifications which were against the people and since I had opposed their style of functioning, I was victimized and suspended for three years. It was an attempt to remove me from the post of chief executive member of KHADC… to put me away from the team of 11 members of district council. But five of them later supported me….so I am still here… The government tried hard to remove me and even come up with a Bill to remove dual posts in the Assembly.
ST: What are your future plans? Are you joining the People’s Democratic Front?
Syiem: Right now, I cannot say anything as I am still associated with Congress…. (on joining PDF) I will see…it will be decided in the later part of September… As per the 10th Schedule, if an MLA joins another party, he will be disqualified and barred from a party ticket…I will have to resign from the party before joining any other party.
ST: What is the objective of floating a regional party like the PDF?
Syiem: (Laughs) I cannot say anything right now…. I am still serving suspension notice from the Congress….You will know later…
ST: There are four regional parties in the state. Will one more make a difference and how?
Syiem: From my individual point of view… very much…it also depends on how confident are people about the parties.
ST: Of late, 12 MDCs have joined the PDF. Will it create an impact?
Syiem: Well, 12 elected MDCs joining the party will make a huge impact…that’s again my individual view…(Laughs)
ST: The MDCs who had joined the party mentioned that one of their agendas was to create separate states for Khasi-Jaintia and Garos. How practical is the agenda?
Syiem: I cannot say anything now….But the MDCs should not make comments at the moment…it’s too early in the day…that’s my view.
ST: How many seats will the PDF be contesting and how many does it expect to win? Will they tie up with any other party?
Syiem: (Laughs again) …I cannot say that too right now…
ST: There is talk of the regional coalition gaining strength? What is your view?
Syiem: Strength does not depend on whether the party is national or regional….strength depends on the quality of the leadership and the kind of agenda the party takes up to win the confidence of the people….We need a new team that takes up the traditional headmen issue, the bylaws issue, unemployment problem, among others…we need a team with new ideas and leadership..
ST: What will be the outcome of the 2018 Assembly polls?
Syiem: It will be a non-Congress government….mainly because the incumbent government has failed on all fronts….there is confusion in the party camp…So, in all probability, it will be a coalition government in the state next year.