SHILLONG: Adelbert Nongrum, the lone MDC of the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), broke down while speaking about amendment to Rule 128 of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils), Rules, 1951, on the first day of the KHADC session on Thursday.
“Time and again, we talk about (Rule) 133 and not (Rule) 128,” he said as he cried.
Both chief executive member PN Syiem and Congress MDC Pt Sawkmie left their seat and proceeded to speak to him.
Nongrum has on numerous occasions raised the issue of amendment to Rule 128 of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils), Rules, 1951 which seek to prevent non-tribals from taking part in the district council elections.
He informed the House that the amendment to the
rule “is necessary to ensure security of the future generation”.
Referring to the case of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, which has a few non-tribal MDCs, Nongrum said he “does not want KHADC to be another GHADC and allow Meghalaya to be another Tripura”.
“It happened in Garo Hills. In the past, we have made mistakes. This present generation will be a lesson for all of us,” he said and added that he would pursue the matter.
Pointing to the previous discussions on Rule 128 which stated that it needs to be studied in depth, he added that it should be clear that only indigenous tribals should be given the right to vote.
“I will look at the situation for one month and see what will be the outcome,” he said.
In reply, KHADC CEM PN Syiem said a special session would be convened to discuss the matter and stated that legal experts have to be consulted.
On shedding tears during the session, Nongrum referred to Mukul Sangma, who had on more than one occasion cried in the House, and said, “You can call me the next Mukul. But I challenge myself. I am not a distributor of schemes. I don’t want to support the People’s Democratic Forum (PDF) or oust it (for want of) scheme, it is all because of the issues.”
