By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 5: Voice of the People Party (VPP) president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on Monday lamented that Meghalaya has lost three opportunities that could have transformed it into one of India’s top states.
Launching a scathing attack on New Delhi’s approach, Basaiawmoit accused the Centre of adopting a “stepmotherly attitude” towards the state.
He outlined the three missed opportunities. First, Meghalaya failed to secure status under Article 371, which grants states greater autonomy to govern themselves.
This would have ensured that no Act of Parliament applies to the social and religious practices of the indigenous tribes, ownership and transfer of land and resources, or administration of civil and criminal justice according to customary laws, he said.
Second, the state missed the chance to oppose the 1951 transfer of Blocks I and II (in the then Mikir Hills) and demand their inclusion in Meghalaya in 1969.
Third, despite its vast potential in minerals, water, and natural resources, Meghalaya failed to transform into a leading state.
“Now we have only one last opportunity: to bring about clean and good governance through clean politics in order to restore and transform Meghalaya into one of the top states in the country,” the VPP chief said.
Stating that Meghalaya has a rich history, unique culture, and community land-holding systems to protect its people, Basaiawmoit added that the Government of India is probably unaware of this heritage—which explains its stepmotherly treatment of the state.
