Shillong, May 8: National People’s Party (NPP) state president and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has urged the NPP workers to explain to voters that electing Dr DRL Nonglait in Shillong Lok Sabha bye-election would strengthen Meghalaya’s fight for inclusion of Khasi and Garo in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Addressing a party meeting that formally announced Khasi Authors Society (KAS) president Dr DRL Nonglait as candidate for the bye-election on Wednesday, he said, “The election will be a different one…We are also concerned that the indigenous community has voted for (L) Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon… but God has taken him away.”
Calling upon the party workers to reach every home, he said, “Let us take collective responsibility from this time onward to go to our respective villages… We will go to each and every household to explain…”
Hinting at the “unresolved” language issue while referring to fielding Dr Nonglait, Tynsong said the government could only grant official language status to “Khasi” and “Garo”, but the languages are yet to be listed in the Eighth Schedule.
“If the people elect him, I firmly believe this will be the opening for the aspiration of the Garo and Khasi people that these languages be included in the Constitution of India..” he said.
Cautioning against “divisive politics” he said, “…everyone envies the NPP… What we fear is that divisive politics may enter. I fear for this small state — with so much division, what will happen?”
He urged the NPP leaders and workers to work hard for he election, without attacking anyone.
“We do not need to attack anyone. We will go and explain, because if we win, it is not an NPP victory but a victory for the entire state of Meghalaya. It will ease things for Conrad Sangma when there are issues that affect religion, custom, and belief,” he said.
Recalling challenges faced by MDA government since 2018, he said, “…missionaries who wanted to come to Meghalaya for a centenary or for their missions sometimes did not get visas. Helpless religious leaders of various faiths would run to the door of the Chief Minister…and he had to knock on doors in Delhi.”
“If we can ensure Dr Nonglait’s victory, it will ease the government and the party’s work to knock on doors in Delhi and in various departments…” Tynsong said.
Highlighting Dr Nonglait’s contributions, he said, “After we took over the government in 2018, we formed a committee to study and give recommendations on the education policy. Dr Nonglait was part of that…A man who is steadfast and dedicated… the shape education has taken now is partly due to the wisdom of this gentleman, for which we as the government and party feel indebted.”
Independent MLA from Rambrai attended the NPP meeting not to join the party but to support the candidature of Dr DRL Nonglait, he said.
