Shillong, Aug 17: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has blamed the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government for the delay in holding elections to the autonomous district council (ADC) in Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
KHNAM accused the government of adopting political tactics and has decided to write to Governor CH Vijayashankar for his immediate intervention and action on the matter.
Addressing the media, KHNAM working president Thomas Passah said, “We strongly oppose the government’s move to further delay the holding of the ADC elections. This is just a political tactic adopted by the state government to forcefully hold on to powers in the ADCs.”
“In democracy, it is of the people, by the people and for people but now (in the ADCs) for the past 6-7 months, the MDCs are of the MDA, by the MDA and for the MDA since their tenure has already expired on February this year,” he said.
Passah said the rights of the people to elect new houses in the two ADCs have been taken away by the MDA government by abusing its power and “illegally” extending the tenure of these ADCs.
“The MDCs are demanded not to take salaries since their tenure has ended since February, this year. By them continuing to take salaries is totally illegal,” he said while adding “Therefore, we have decided to immediately write to the Governor for his intervention,” he said.
The KHNAM leader further said, “The governor has agreed on the proposal for delimitation. But there are many villages who protested against the manner in which the delimitation process has been done. Now, the question arises whether the process of delimitation has been conducted in a proper manner. I will not blame the delimitation committee as you are asking them to do a humongous task within a short span of time. It is not easy. Therefore, this is just political tactics adopted by the state government to forcefully hold on to powers in the ADCs.”
He said the government may try to make the issue related to the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India as another excuse to further delay holding of the ADC elections.
“I fear that the MDA government and those who are holding on to powers in the ADCs, they (MDA) can use this (Sixth Schedule issue) to further extend the tenure of the two ADCs, which is illegal and not acceptable at all. Therefore, the governor can take a call on this matter,” he said.
“We have seen the autonomous power of the district council has been taken away by the state government. Why should the council of ministers decide on extending the tenure of the ADCs? This is total infringement into the powers of the ADCs. In fact, the governor should also take a decision on such matters,” Passah further added.
