SHILLONG: HSPDP president, Ardent Basaiawmoit has said he has no grand design of becoming chief minister but wants to protect the indigenous people of the state. “I am not desperate to win the elections but desperate to protect the indigenous people – the Khasis,” Basaiawmoit said while addressing a party rally at Malki ground here on Tuesday.
Thousands of people attended the rally where HSPDP leaders spoke on various issues and agenda of the regional party. He further said he never imagined he would become the chief executive member of the KHADC. He said the party would soon release a booklet which would counter the allegations made against the party by political rivals on various issues.
Giving a subtle reference to SK Sunn, the aspiring candidate from Mawphlang who was a chief engineer, Basaiawmoit said, “We know him very well. He was just a chief engineer.”
“Aspiring candidates and legislators go to villages to construct a stretch of road amounting to Rs 30 lakh, open a school of Rs 6 lakh…,” he said.
Basaiawmoit further said people are happy because they are getting things for free and not mindful of electing the right candidate.
According to him, people should not be happy but should question from where they get the money. He said people can easily be fooled during elections with politicians doling out freebies at will.
Stating that serving the people was not an easy task, he slammed MLAs whom he accused of not having the heart to care for people but instead crave position, power and privileges.
Speaking about money power, he said in Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi district, money power dominates the elections where people would often ask about the amount of money a candidate has.
“In public meetings, there are no other talks except money. It only ends in money power. The electorate should understand about who they elect as money cannot remove difficulties,” Basaiawmoit said.
He further said HSPDP did not rely on money power and the people love and respect the party.
Exhorting the crowd to exercise their wisdom by questioning the candidates on how they get their finances, he said, “Look at the personality of the person and do not go with emotions.”
According to Basaiawmoit, the fighting spirit of the Khasis have to be revived at a time when the indigenous people are being looked upon as “soft” even when there are difficulties in trade and business of the indigenous tribes.
He shared a story on how he was offered to stand for elections from Sohiong way back in 1998 and was told that it would not be difficult for him as people would be happy when politicians/candidates give away second hand clothes to them.
Article 371 and financial stability
The party also demanded that the state should be included under Article 371 on the lines of Mizoram (371 A) and Nagaland (371 G) for which special provisions have been made in the Constitution of India.
On the other hand, Basaiawmoit also promised the people to make the state financially strong. “It is strange to know that the state government does not have enough money,” he said.
“The money that should have reached the coffers of the state government instead makes its way into the pockets of individuals,” he added.
ILP
Basaiawmoit stated that Inner Line Permit (ILP) would not cause any trouble to outsiders. He cited the example of Mizoram where tourists’ inflow is high despite implementation of ILP.
“In fact it is much higher than the state of Meghalaya. ILP will protect the indigenous people,” he said.
Meanwhile, the lone lady from HSPDP who spoke at the gathering, Teilinia Thangkhiew informed that the party would celebrate 50 years of existence in 2018.
She reminded that people of HSPDP supremo late Hoping Lyngdoh who was vigorous in his demand for a hill state.
“The party has been instrumental in their demand for statehood. They carried black flags shouting protests of ‘no hill state, no rest,” she said.
She asserted that the state has to be free from Congress rule and people have to be ready to carry black flags against Congress and give way to regional parties to rule the state.
Thangkhiew reiterated the party’s concept of clean politics campaign and banked on it as part of its election run up programme.
According to her it is the party which has given a special place to women as she was the first woman to be the chairperson in Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.