SHILLONG: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) state youth wing alleged that the Khasi Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Chief Executive Member (CEM) PN Syiem did not take the matter of amendment of Rule 128 seriously.
In a statement issued here, KHNAM SYW president, Thomas Passah maintained that it had sent several reminders to Syiem on the amendment of Rule 128 fell on deaf ears as it sought to prevent non-tribals from taking part in the district council elections.
He said that KHNAM has written clearly to Syiem to amend the Rule 128 wherein only indigenous Scheduled Tribes would be allowed to vote during elections to the District Council.
He added that the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution empowered the District Council to make laws in such lines by citing the example of District Councils in Mizoram (Lai, Mara and Chakma) that framed a law where only indigenous tribal people can contest council elections.
Passah criticized Syiem for not being serious with the matter even as KHNAM MDC, Adelbert Nongrum has tabled resolutions during Council sessions on twice occasions.
Further, he said that the People’s Democratic Forum (PDF) coalition-led by Syiem had not been able to protect the indigenous people.
“The PDF has no responsibility towards discussing issues on influx, boundary but it is misusing the name of indigenous tribal identity to win the elections. But the works that they do are against the indigenous people,” he said.
KHNAM has raised the issue of the amendment to Rule 128 of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils), Rules, 1951, as according to the party, its amendment was important for the preservation and protection of the indigenous tribes.