SHILLONG: “I am not desperate to win the elections but desperate to protect the interests of indigenous people-the Khasis,” said the president of the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), Ardent Basaiawmoit while addressing the party rally at Malki ground on Tuesday.
He said that he had no grand design of becoming the chief minister of the state adding that he has never imagined that he would become the Chief Executive Member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
Thousands of people attended the HSPDP rally where the leaders of the party spoke on various issues and the agenda of the party.
The HSPDP president further said the party would soon release a booklet which would answer the allegations made against the party by political rivals on various issues.
Giving a subtle reference to S K Sunn, the aspiring candidate from Mawphlang who was a Chief Engineer, Basaiawmoit said, “We know him very well. He was just a chief engineer.”
“Aspiring candidates and legislators go to villages to construct a stretch of road amounting to Rs 30 lakhs, open a school of Rs 6 lakhs….,” he said adding that people are happy because they are getting things for free and are not mindful of electing the right candidate though.
According to him, people should not be happy but should question from where the aspiring candidate gets the money. He stated that people could easily be fooled during elections with politicians giving away free gifts to them.
Stating that serving people is not an easy task, he slammed MLAs who he accused of not having the heart to care for people but instead craved for position, power and privileges
Speaking of money power, he said in Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi district money power dominated the elections where people would often ask the amount of money a candidate had.
“In public meetings, there are no other talks except money. It only ends in money power. The electorate should understand about who they elect as money cannot remove difficulties,” Basaiawmoit said.
He added that the HSPDP did not rely on money power but was confident that the people love and respect the party.
Exhorting the crowd to exercise their wisdom by questioning the candidates on where they source their finances, he said, “Look at the personality of the person and do not go with emotions.”
According to Basaiawmoit, the fighting spirit of the Khasis have to be revived at a time when the indigenous people are being looked upon as “soft” even when the indigenous people face difficulties in trade and business.
He shared a story on how he was offered to stand for elections from Sohiong way back in 1998 and was told that it would not be difficult for him as people would be happy when politicians/candidates give away second hand clothes to them.
Article 371 and financial stability
The party also demanded that the state should be brought under the Article 371 in line with Mizoram (371 A) and Nagaland (371 G) for which special provisions have been made in the Constitution of India.
On the other hand, Basaiawmoit also promised the people to make the state financially strong. “It is strange to know that the state government does not have enough money,” he said.
“The money that should have reached the coffers of the state government, instead makes its way to the pockets of individuals,” he added.
ILP demand
Basaiawmoit stated that Inner Line Permit (ILP) will not cause any trouble to outsiders by citing the example of Mizoram where the tourists’ inflow is high despite the implementation of the ILP.
“In fact it (tourist inflow) is much higher than the state of Meghalaya. The ILP will protect the indigenous people,” he said.
Meanwhile, the lone lady from HSPDP who spoke at the gathering, Teilinia Thangkhiew, informed that the party would celebrate 50 years of its existence in 2018 while the state is only 45 years old.
She reminded people of late HSPDP supremo, Hoping Lyngdoh who was vociferous in his demand for a hill state.
“The HSPDP has been instrumental in their demand for statehood. They carried black flags shouting protests of ‘no hill state, no rest,” she said.
She asserted that the state had to be free from Congress rule and the people were to be ready to carry black flags against Congress and make way to regional parties to rule the state.
According to her, it is the party which has given a special place to women as she was the first woman to become the chairperson in Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.
