Separate Khasi-Jaintia state, ILP in HSPDP manifesto

SHILLONG: The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) has called upon its candidates to oppose any policy of the Centre that may act against the interests of the indigenous people.
The party held a meeting at its office in Laitumkhrah on Monday where all its council poll candidates were present.
Mawkyrwat MLA and HSPDP general secretary Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar said, “We are very clear that the party will oppose policies which are against the interest of the people.”
Referring to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the MLA said, “We oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill and demand the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) to protect the minority people.” The issue of ILP is also prominent in the party’s council election manifesto that was released on Monday.
Speaking on the party’s prospects in the council elections, HSPDP president and party candidate from Rambrai-Jyrngam KP Pangniang said he was hopeful of the party’s victory from his constituency.
He said the party has decided to field a lesser number candidates in the 2019 council election as it is looking for quality and not quantity.
With only two MLAs in the Assembly, Renikton said, “This time we will perform better than in the previous election.”
HSPDP is fielding 14 candidates in the council elections and is hoping to open its accounts in Ri Bhoi and Jaintia Hills where the party does not have any presence.
In its manifesto, the party has renewed the demand for a separate Khasi and Jaintia states as per the Article 371 of the Constitution.
Other prominent features in the manifesto are inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule and opposition to uranium mining in the state, among other things.