By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Thursday came down heavily on Deputy Chief Minister and UDP working president Bindo M Lanong for continuing to make derogatory remarks against the women of the State.

“Lanong has been known to make such derogatory remarks against women and women activists in the past which have been reported in the media,” MPCC general secretary in charge of Mahila Congress, Sanjay Das, said in a statement on Thursday.

According to Das, women who hold respectable positions in the society have been referred to as ‘venomous vipers’ by Lanong.

“We wish to remind the Deputy Chief Minister about his obligations towards women of the State irrespective of their political affiliation,” Das said while also demanding immediate apology from Lanong for his remark against the Mahila Congress.

All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) general secretary in charge of Meghalaya, Poonam Rani Wangkhem, said such demeaning remarks against women made by Lanong, a senior leader of the State, are very unfortunate.

“This is an indication of the thought process of the UDP on the women folk of not only Meghalaya but in general. The increase in the activities of the Mahila Congress in Meghalaya seems to have irked the UDP to such an extent that senior and responsible political figures are getting down to making undignified and irresponsible remarks against women,” Wangkhem said.

“The UDP leaders should stop minding what Mahila Congress members are doing and concentrate more on their so called intellectual women candidates,” Wangkhem added.

Meghalaya Pradesh Mahila Congress (MPMC) president EM War also denounced Lanong’s remarks.

“It is most unbecoming and unbefitting of an elderly person and a senior legislator to have made such derogatory remarks on women in the political field. His attitude and perception of women have clearly projected that he is a person with a prejudiced mind,” she said, adding that Bindo Lanong has no regard whatsoever for women from any background be it educational, social or political.

“At his age, he probably forgets that there is a lot he needs to unlearn and relearn before he makes remarks and statements that are hurtful and degrading to the womankind as a whole,” she said, adding, “This is also an appeal to all women folks not to allow such divisive and destructive elements to portray women as objects or commodities for their own personal agenda.”

Bindo M Lanong on Thursday denied having made any derogatory remarks against the Mahila Congress.

“I was just praising my own party women members. I only stated that the UDP women candidates have comparatively better background and other qualifications,” he stated.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: NCP president and Laban legislator Sanbor Shullai has not yet submitted his reply to the show cause notice issued by East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Sanjay Goyal for his alleged violation of the election model code of conduct, despite being asked to submit his reply by January 17 (Thursday).

Goyal on Thursday night informed that Shullai was yet to reply to the show cause notice.

“I have to inform the Election Commission that the concerned person has not responded to the show cause notice,” Goyal said.

The Laban legislator has been accused of violating the code of conduct by distributing utility items like blankets, plastic chairs and tables under the MLA Scheme to beneficiaries of his constituency at Raid Laban College a day after the Election Commission announced the poll date in Meghalaya and enforced the election model code of conduct.

The official also made it clear that they have enough proof that the show cause notice was received by someone in his residence on January 14 and accordingly three days’ time was given to the legislator to respond to the notice.

Assembly Speaker Charles Pyngrope has ruled out the disqualification of HSPDP member Dr Adviser Pariong, who is contesting the upcoming election on a Congress ticket, saying that he had already resigned from the House.

“Pariong resigned from the Assembly on January 4 and it was only on January 15 that the HSPDP president HS Lyngdoh lodged a complaint,” Pyngrope said on Thursday.

The Speaker will soon give his ruling on the 11 NCP defectors who had joined the newly formed NPP.

“I have sent a letter to the Additional Secretary of the Assembly seeking constitutional views and after getting the same I will give the ruling,” Pyngrope added.

It was on August 24 last at a function held in Shillong that the NCP functionaries and legislators declared their ‘merger’ with the NPP.

Later, NCP legislator and Deputy Speaker Sanbor Shullai lodged a complaint with the Speaker asking him to disqualify the 11 defectors.

However, in their reply, the defectors said that technically they were still NCP legislators.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Community and Rural Development Minister Saleng Sangma (Congress), who was denied party ticket, lost one of his supporters on Thursday two weeks after he was shot at by GNLA militants.

The Minister’s supporter identified as Plaindro Sangma, who was shot at along with two others by GNLA militants on January 2, succumbed to his injuries at Tura Civil Hospital.

According to police, armed GNLA militants had shot on the legs of three supporters of Sangma at Aklangre village under Dalu police station.

The militant outfit accused them of being police informers.

Plaindro Sangma, who was admitted at Tura Civil Hospital on January 9 died at the hospital due to the delayed treatment.

Police said that though the incident occurred on January 2, there was delay by the injured person to seek medical assistance thereby resulting in his death. The GNLA, besides accusing the trio as police informers, also asked them not to work for Sangma, saying that if they did so their family members would be targeted.

Out of fear, the three injured did not either report the matter to the police or go to the hospital.

However, after police came to know about the matter on January 9, Plaindro was immediately admitted to Tura Civil Hospital. Police have been unable to trace the remaining two injured persons.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Forest and Environment Minister Prestone Tynsong on Thursday exuded confidence that the hopes of the UDP to rule the State for the next five years would remain a distant dream as the Congress would win the upcoming election with a thumping majority.

“A party like the UDP does not have the resources and capability to rule the State. If the UDP comes to power they would have no other option but to go to Delhi with a begging bowl asking for financial assistance,” he said.

“I feel sorry for the UDP since they would never get the mandate of the people to rule the State. The trend across the State is in a favour of the Congress,” Tynsong said while addressing a general meeting of the Mawphlang Block Congress Committee (MBCC) at Laitjem near Mawngap on Thursday.

Maintaining that the Congress will secure absolute majority, Tynsong said, “Even if we fail to get absolute majority, the party is surely going to win at least 28 to 29 seats. With this number the Congress can always form the next Government with the support of the Independents and smaller parties,” he said.

“The Congress would not face any problem in getting funds for development of the State since there is a Congress-led Government in the Centre,” Tynsong asserted.

“The 40 per cent jump in the annual plan outlay in the present fiscal budget is because a Congress Government is ruling the State. You may recall that the annual budget of the State during the MPA regime in 2008-2009 was only Rs 1425 crore but the present annual plan is Rs 3939 crore. This itself is an indication of how Congress governments are able to get more funds for the State,” he said.

Reiterating that the Congress can perform better if it is given the chance to rule the State on its own, Tynsong said, “In the past many years the people have not given a clear mandate to one political party. Fractured mandate would not do any good for the progress and development of the State.”

Asking people to allow the Congress to rule the State in the coming five years, he said, “I can assure that the State would reach new heights of development and progress with the Congress at the helms of affairs.”

Congress legislator from Mylliem, Ronnie V Lyngdoh, said that the State needs legislators who can formulate policies and raise issues affecting the common man of the State.

“We do not want people who know only how to distribute things to become our legislators. Such personalities do not have any policy or plan in their mind on how to serve the people,” Lyngdoh said.

Others who spoke at the meeting included Sohra legislator Dr PW Khongjee and Congress candidate from Mawphlang constituency Kennedy C Khyriem.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The habitual drunkenness of people in certain polling stations in the State has resulted in the Election Department marking them as sensitive.

There are a total of 2485 polling stations in Meghalaya which are categorized as normal, sensitive and hyper sensitive based on various factors.

Nearly half of the polling stations (1222) are problematic ones as they fall under either hyper sensitive or sensitive categories.

Among the 2485 polling booths, some are categorized as sensitive due to the drinking habits of the people residing around the polling stations.

Meghalaya is not a dry state and liquor is available even on polling day though there is official ban on sale of liquor on voting day.

A senior government official said that there are localities which have witnessed nuisance due to the drunkenness of people and hence the Election Department had to categorize some areas as sensitive polling stations.

Some polling stations are categorized as sensitive due to the ‘encroachment’ of elephants in polling stations, mostly in Garo Hills.

In the past, there have been cases of destruction of houses and paddy fields in Garo Hills and Ri Bhoi due to the rampage caused by wild elephants. Some of the areas are adjacent to the polling stations. There were also cases of polling agents facing the wrath of wild elephants in previous elections.

“We expect the wild elephants also to follow the model code of conduct,” Chief Electoral Officer P Naik said in a lighter vain.

Besides, there are 348 polling stations which are sensitive due to the history of group clashes and other sorts of unrest.

There are as many as 412 hyper sensitive polling stations mostly in Garo Hills due to militancy involving GNLA.

The ANVC has signed a draft ceasefire agreement with the Government but the GNLA is active all over Garo Hills and also in parts of West Khasi Hills.

Moreover, 462 polling stations were also declared as hyper sensitive due to the nature of group clash especially in Jaintia Hills.

The number of normal and peaceful polling stations in the State is 1263.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The National People’s Party (NPP) will put up candidates for forty seats out of sixty in the ensuing Assembly election scheduled on February 23.

NPP is fielding only 22 candidates out of the total 24 constituencies in Garo Hills which is considered to be a stronghold for the party.

The party has decided not to field any candidates in Tikrikila and Dalu constituencies in West Garo Hills.

Explaining the reason for not fielding any candidates in these constituencies, NPP leader Conrad Sangma said, “We are putting up candidates where we have a good chance of winning.”

It may be mentioned that Congress is fielding Rahinath Barchung from Tikrikila and Kenethson R Sangma from Dalu constituency.

The NPP has so far announced the names of 35 candidates to contest the polls.

The party leader also said that NPP has started its campaign in different parts of the State.

Sangma, however, ruled out any direct pre-poll alliance with the UDP, but added that the NPP is in touch with like-minded parties.

The NPP will also release the election manifesto soon, Sangma said.

From Our Correspondent

 JOWAI: The West Jaintia Hills District Election Officer, Peter S Dkhar has called upon each political party in the District to maintain a peaceful election process.

“There should be no differences between supporters of a candidate with another and between a political party with another, so that law and order could be maintained in the District”, the DEO said.

“Election campaign should be peaceful and no communalism should be created by any political parties”, he added

The District Election Officer, PS DKhar held a meeting with leaders of various political parties including, HSPDP, INC, NPP, UDP beside others at the DC’s Conference hall here on Thursday. The Additional District Magistrate In charge election, SS Syiemlieh, Additional SP, Lakador Syiem and SP, H Lyngdoh also attended the meeting.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Dkhar informed that the meeting discussed various issued related to smooth conduction of the upcoming election in the entire district.

“We have also informed political parties about the procedures of filling of the nomination papers besides other instructions and a copy of the instructions has been issued to each political party”, Dkhar said.

Dkhar informed the filing of nomination papers will start from January 30 till February 6 and the scrutiny will be on January 7. Withdrawal of nomination papers will be on February 9.

“Final lists of contesting candidate will be announced and symbols to Independent Candidates will be allotted on February 9”, the DEO informed.

Meanwhile, the DEO also informed that all polling stations in the border areas (both Interstate border and International border) will be treated as sensitive polling stations.

Most probably, Wahiajer and Nartiang village under the Nartiang Assembly Constituency will also be treated as hypersensitive polling stations.

“Ten people from Wahiajer village were prosecuted under section 107 CrPc today”, Syiemlieh said.

The District Election Officer informed that the first Randomisation of EVMs will be held on Friday.

From Our Correspondent

 NONGSTOIN: The Deputy Commissioner, South West Khasi Hills, A Mawlong on Wednesday held a meeting with the District Superintendent of Police, D Sangma, public prosecutors and officers of the line departments to discuss the constitution of the district level committees on the protection of women from sexual harassment at work places and for speedy disposal of cases relating to crime against women.

The Deputy Commissioner stressed on the involvement of women officers from the line departments in taking appropriate action to protect women against crimes. He also underlined that awareness campaigns should be organised in order to make people aware about legal provisions for protection of women from sexual harassment.

A District Level Committee has been formed for the speedy disposal of cases relating to crime against women which will be chaired by the Deputy Commissioner and the Additional Deputy Commissioner as the member secretary. Officers from line departments and public prosecutors as members. The District Level Committee was also formed for protection of women from sexual harassment in work places and it will be chaired by the Extra Assistant Commissioner and the officer from the Social Welfare department as member secretary.

The meeting also held a threadbare discussion on the setting up of a District Legal Service Authority for the speedy disposal of cases relating to crimes against women as well as for the welfare of the victims and matter relating to claims for compensation.