Shillong, Oct 23: Leader of Opposition in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Titosstarwell Chyne on Thursday asked the Voice of the People Party (VPP)-led executive committee (EC) to stop making personal attacks but rather work towards improving the functioning of the council.
Supporting a motion on the Non-Tribal Employee Clearance Certificate (NTECC) issue, Chyne broke his silence on a checking conducted by the KSU at Sohra’s Jiva resort, where white and pink coloured slips were found to be issued to non-tribal workers.
Chyne expressed disappointment that one of the EMs of the council had posted a WhatsApp status with five points, making personal attacks against him.
The EM had questioned why NGOs leaders of Sohra were silent when the CEM, who is MDC Sohra, had issued labour licenses in 2021.
Chyne clarified that he had restrained himself from talking about the issue earlier, but was now breaking his silence to set the record straight.
“The EM, in his social media status, stated: ‘Where are the NGOs leaders of Sohra when the CEM, who is MDC Sohra, had issued this labour license in 2021? Why should we take things personally? Why are we making things personal? What is my involvement in the checking conducted by the NGO? NGOs are independent, I cannot control them. Just because they conduct checking of labour license at Sohra, you feel it right to blame me? Is it right to accuse me that I had sent them? Stop making things personal. We are here to serve the people. When you are in power, it is difficult to avoid criticism. Sadly, we are elected representatives, yet we indulge in childish behaviour, writing on your WhatsApp status aimed at personally attacking me. If you find what the previous ECs are doing is wrong, it is your duty to streamline instead of blaming,” the leader of opposition stated.
Chyne clarified that the KHADC no longer has the power to issue labour licenses after the state government implemented the state Act relating to labour.
He explained that the previous Executive Committee (EC) had issued non-tribal clearance certificates to workers because people depend on the council to control the influx of migrant workers to the region. However, he acknowledged that there were shortcomings in the process. Chyne emphasized that the new EC’s role is to improve things, not to blame each other.
“When we are in power, we do things with knowledge. We also understand that our position is temporary, and that time will come when we have to make way for others, and if they find out something is not right, they should stop it. It is not that just because others are doing something, I will also do the same. If you know it is wrong, I expect that those who come afterwards will correct it and improve it.”
Chyne urged the council to do the right thing regarding the labour license issue, so that it would not put the council in a bad light.
In his reply, KHADC chief Winston Tony Lyngdoh stated that he had not made any allegations against the LO, but had only stated that NTECC was issued during his tenure as CEM.
He clarified that his statement was not intended to malign the LO’s image, but to provide facts and clarify that NTECC had started during his tenure without any malice intention.
