Threat to boycott 2022 Golden Jubilee celebration
SHILLONG: Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) MLA Adelbert Nongrum has threatened to boycott the Golden Jubilee celebration of the state in 2022 citing the state’s inability to come up with its own laws and depending on those borrowed from Assam.
He was referring to the various contentious issues faced by the state such as the lingering inter-state boundary dispute with Assam, the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes), Order of 1950, Sweeper Lane (Iew Them Metor) and the reservation policy.
He told The Shillong Times, “Everything is being copied and pasted from Assam. Meghalaya has no strong act till date. Because of this, I will boycott the 50th anniversary celebration of the state. As a legislator, I feel ashamed that till date there is no act to protect the indigenous people.”
He added that he will not take part in the celebration if the state does not resolve the boundary dispute and reservation policy, sweeper lane and the ST Order issues.
During his tenure as an MDC, Nongrum had raised the issue of Constitution (ST) Order, 1950 during a session of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
He observed that tribes from other states are enjoying benefits that are meant for the indigenous tribal population in the state.
Speaking about the Scheduled Tribe Act, 1950 he said that there are loopholes in the Land Transfer Act which allow non-indigenous tribes to get benefits through the ST certificate or the single window agency which give them opportunity to lease out the land.
“We need a government which can call itself the government of the people first to rectify the mistakes committed under Assam. I demand rectification with regard to boundary and the ST Order, we got statehood without proper demarcation,” he remarked.
He said the Constitution (ST) Order, 1950 will be taken up in the Assembly session which is likely to be held in September.
Nongrum said the ST Order needs to be amended and pointed out that the ST list under Meghalaya mentions Khasi, Jaintia, Synteng, Pnar, Bhoi whereas he argued that Jaintia, Pnar and Synteng are the same.
According to him, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes should push for its amendment.
