SHILLONG, Feb 2: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has asserted that it has every right to complain to the District Council Affairs Department and asked the Kynhun San Synjuk (KSS) members if they can vouch for each Rangbah Shnong in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills that the party was not denied permission to campaign for the upcoming district council polls.
The KSS is a conglomeration of the heads of traditional bodies.
“Can they (KSS) vouch for every Rangbah Shnong in Khasi-Jaintia Hills that no one attempted to deny permission? If they can, then we need the necessary documents to prove that we are wrong. If they feel pricked by the assertion of the VPP that they are wrong, let them correct it,” VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh said on Sunday.
The KSS had slammed the Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit-led party for shooting off a complaint to the District Council Affairs (DCA) Department, terming it an “unhealthy” practice.
The VPP lodged the complaint with the Commissioner and Secretary of the DCA Department, protesting alleged restrictions imposed by village heads (Rangbah Shnongs) and traditional leaders (Sordars) on campaigning for the upcoming district council elections.
The VPP stated that several Rangbah Shnongs and Sordars in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills either refused to grant permission for election campaigns or imposed severe time restrictions, affecting the party’s ability to conduct its outreach programmes effectively. “We have every right to complain to the DCA if our rights are infringed upon. We have every right under Article 32 of the Constitution of India and Article 226 to approach the High Court (of Meghalaya) and the Supreme Court for the enforcement of our rights,” Myrboh said.
Reminding the traditional body heads that Basaiawmoit has time and again clarified that VPP has never been against traditional institutions, he said, “We respect the traditional institutions. However, we are against those who abuse their authority probably to pursue their hidden agenda under the cloak of tradition.”
Myrboh said 99.9% of the traditional bodies are performing their duties diligently without curbing the fundamental rights of the people. “The 0.1% creates issues… in every institution, there are some elements so why should we be wary of that,” he added.
“Here, we respect everybody as long as he or she functions within the ambit of the law. Beyond what the law provides, we don’t agree to blindly follow. One should respect a child who speaks the truth but an adult speaking rubbish does not deserve respect,” he said.
On the decision of the Mawlai Town Dorbar to restrict election meetings on all six candidates contesting the Mawlai constituency, Myrboh said it is agreeable if the dorbar gives it in writing. The decision was taken after consulting the candidates, including the VPP’s.
“The decision has to be relayed to the party. How can a candidate decide on behalf of a party? There are so many workers above and below the candidate,” he said.
Following the complaint, the DCA Department on Thursday directed the district election officers, sub-divisional officers, and returning officers to instruct the headmen and Dorbar Shnongs to allow public meetings of all political parties including independent candidates to ensure free and fair elections.
However, in a fresh order on Friday, the department clarified that the headmen or Dorbar Shnongs who decided to permit the candidates to campaign from a common platform would be allowed to do so.
“Let the Dorbar Shnong choose one of the two orders because the fresh order did not overwrite the order that was issued on January 30,” Myrboh said.
“We will stand by the first order,” he added.
