SHILLONG: HSPDP leader Ardent Basaiawmoit said on Monday that he had not misled the people on the MUDA laws.
Basaiawmoit, who addressed a gathering of hundreds of people at Laitkor, said there were allegations against him that he was instrumental in bringing the villages of Laitkor and Umphyrnai under MUDA.
“People told me that I did not clarify over the allegations. It was wrong on our part that we did not clarify because we thought that people will understand that these are all lies,” said the HSPDP leader, who convened the meeting to clear his stand over MUDA.
Several villages have blamed MUDA for encroaching on land in scheduled areas.
As per media reports, in 2015, Basaiawmoit, in a U-turn, had welcomed the MUDA Building Bye Laws and said this would ensure safety of structures. His change of tone had not been pleasant to the ears of many among his supporters and the rally he was addressing had turned violent.
The leader on Monday took out documents about Meghalaya Urban Development Authority and its objectives. As per MUDA’s notification on January 5, 2015, he said that civic laws would be applicable in Barapani, foot-track up to kaccha road up to Bhoirymbong, from near Nongkhlaw up to Wah Tamdong, kacchha road to Nongpiur.
He asserted that there was no opposition from any quarters. “During those days, I was suffering from an ailment for four-five months,” he said.
Basaiawmoit pointed out that it was after the Meghalaya High Court stayed the order issued by MUDA that the civic body withdrew the earlier notification related to Meghalaya Building Bye Laws, 2011.
“We never misled the people,” he said.
Marriage registration
Basaiawmoit also denounced the critics of the Meghalaya Compulsory Marriage Registration Act as he pointed out that it is a law that will prevent certain issues arising out of marriage and family problems.
Stating that the law is directed towards strengthening familial bonds and curbing broken marriages, Basaiawmoit said, “This will make males more responsible and curb the problem of single motherhood.”
“There has to be a law to register marriages which the State Government will accept. However, there is a minor conflict with some Church leaders,” he added.
Right candidates
Speaking of electing the right candidates, he urged the people to not elect candidates who distribute materials. The HSPDP president also made it clear that the public meeting is not an election campaign but the beginning of the party’s tour to other places.
Surname row
On the allegations of inheriting his father’s surname, the HSPDP leader clarified that if a person takes the title of a father, he/she is still a Khasi and pointed that it is an individual’s view.
