By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 1: The United Democratic Party (UDP) on Wednesday questioned the failure of the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) to enforce the state government’s repeated direction to close down illegal toll gates operating under their respective jurisdictions.
“If it is illegal and within the jurisdiction of the district council then it should not be entertained and tolerated. Time and again the government has issued instructions in this regard. This is a bad reflection on the state. How can the ADCs not enforce the notification of the government?” UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh asked.
“The UDP is firm about the closure of the illegal toll gates and is glad that the district administration has taken cognisance and issued a letter,” he said.
The East Khasi Hills district administration has prohibited the operation of unauthorised check gates or toll gates for any kind of forced collection along the major district roads, state and national highways.
The state government has also closed down a few such gates in the past few months.
Referring to the order, Mawthoh said, “We should appreciate the efforts of the government and the district administration against such illegalities.”
He recalled the reaction of the KHADC’s chief executive member to his statement seeking the uprooting of the illegal toll gates. The CEM had retaliated by accusing the UDP supporters of operating the illegal toll gates.
“The CEM should have furnished the names of the UDP supporters instead of merely accusing,” he said.
Selection of candidates
Earlier in the day, the UDP’s core committee held its first round of discussions on selecting candidates for the Lok Sabha elections.
“We will soon be having a meeting of all the MLAs, MDCs, and top leaders of the UDP,” Mawthoh said, adding a few names have come up informally.
“You must have seen the names of PT Sawkmie, Robert June Kharjahrin, and Prof DRL Nonglait time and again in the media. There are many other probable candidates,” he added.
“The three persons named have offered to be the UDP’s candidates. The party has not discussed any names yet,” Mawthoh said.
He said the names would be finalised after a proper assessment across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills and discussions with the stakeholders.
Stating that the UDP has 12 MLAs and 17 MDCs in Khasi and Jaintia Hills, he said the party has a strong foothold in Khasi-Jaintia Hills and garnered a 24% vote share in the last Assembly elections.
“Considering the foothold, we are hopeful that our candidates will emerge victorious,” Mawthoh said.