SHILLONG: With State Assembly elections just a few months away, concerns are being raised on the non-implementation of the People (Second Amendment) Act, 1987 and to reserve 100 per cent seats in the Legislative Assembly for the indigenous tribal of Meghalaya.
In light of the issue, the Meghalaya People United Front (MPUF) has demanded the implementation of the People (2nd Amendment), Act, 1987 in a memorandum submitted to the Chief Election Officer (CEO).
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, president of MPUF, Dawanpoimi Laloo said, “What is the difficulty that the state is facing to implement the Act? The states of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram have implemented it.”
He stated that if the government maintains silence on the matter, the organization will take legal recourse as he puts it “will take to peaceful measures to take the matter to another step.”
When asked, Laloo said, “It will be good if the issue is taken up during election campaigns,” adding that though the participation of non-tribals during elections in Jaintia Hills is not high, however, the organisation’s main focus is Garo Hills and the entire state.
The CEO has informed the organisation that the matter will be taken up by a committee and if necessary it will be forwarded to the Governor of the state.
MPUF in its memorandum also demanded to reserve 100 per cent seats in the legislative Assembly for the Indigenous tribal of Meghalaya.
It further stated that a Bill was passed by the Parliament to provide for increased representation to Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assemblies of North eastern states like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland.
Again, the organisation stated in its memorandum that the representation of the People (Third Amendment) Act, 1987 was enacted by the Parliament to specify the number of seats which shall be reserved for scheduled Tribe was entrusted to the Election Commission through amendment made in the representation of the People Act, 1950.