Controversy over bill passed by KHADC
SHILLONG: There is no end to the war of words between residents of Malai-Sohmat Hima and Synjuk Ki Riew Rangbah over a bill pertaining to the Hima passed by the KHADC.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, residents of Malai-Sohmat Hima have urged the Meghalaya Governor and the District Council Affairs department to set aside the bill of the Hima recently passed by the KHADC.
Earlier, residents under the banner of Synjuk Ki Riew Rangbah had also torn the Bill as a mark of protest.
Synjuk chairman Hilarius Wanniang told reporters on Tuesday that the bill seeks to take away the right of the people to participate in the Dorbar and to elect the Syiem.
He claimed that in 1893, the Syiem of the Hima had been elected by the people.
“This practice was again revived by the ARPA led by Ardent M Basaiawmoit in 2014 when the people were once again allowed to participate in the election process to elect the Syiem,” Wanniang said.
Earlier, the Myntris of the Hima had claimed that as per customary practice of the Hima only the seven clans are the eligible electorates in the election to the post of the Syiem.
According to them, only the Malai and Sohmat clans are eligible to contest the post of the Syiem.
However, according to Wanniang, apart from Malai and Sohmat clans, the Iawrod clan is also eligible to contest the post of Syiem of the Hima.
The Synjuk has also slammed the KHADC chief P.N. Syiem and his executive committee for creating a ruckus in the Hima by passing the bill without knowing the actual customary practices.
He also alleged that the Dewsohbah clan, which was stripped of its right to elect the Syiem in 1903, had been reinstated by present KHADC CEM.