By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 19: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Tuesday defended its stance on the ongoing controversy surrounding the confirmation process of the Syiem of Hima Sohra, stating that demands for accountability and transparency should not be viewed as an attack on tradition or customary institutions.
VPP spokesperson Dr AW Rani said the party had taken note of remarks made by Paiem Laborious Manik S. Syiem, adviser to the Synjuk ki Khlieh Nongsynshar Hima Sohra, published in The Shillong Times on May 12.
The VPP maintained that custom and tradition should not be used as a shield against legitimate questions relating to administrative transparency and accountability.
It said the people of Sohra should not be misled by what it termed politically motivated narratives that suppress the rights of the people or blur the distinction between politics and the administrative functioning of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
Reiterating its commitment to protecting the sanctity of the Dorbar system and the institution of the Syiem, the party said these institutions form the bedrock of Khasi identity. At the same time, it argued that tradition derives its strength from the people and cannot be insulated from public scrutiny. The party further claimed that if a few individuals from Hima Sohra believed that the election of the Syiem by the KHADC had deviated from established custom and the spirit of “ki khun ki hajar ka ri 30 Synjem 12 Dolloi”, their elected representative could not remain a mute spectator.
According to the VPP, while the Sixth Schedule grants the KHADC authority over traditional institutions, that authority must be exercised transparently and in consonance with customary practices. Rani added that the issue was not about party affiliation but about procedural propriety and moral legitimacy. The VPP also rejected attempts to portray the matter as street-level political agitation, saying such a characterisation was simplistic and ignored wider public concerns over transparency in administration.
Calling tradition and democracy complementary rather than adversarial, the VPP said the Dorbar system had endured because it adapted and drew moral legitimacy from the people. The party stated that if there were allegations of deviation from custom in the Syiem election process, the appropriate course would be an open and time-bound inquiry involving stakeholders from Hima Sohra.
The VPP said it remained committed to upholding both the dignity of traditional institutions and the constitutional rights of the people.
