‘Sixth Schedule more powerful than Article 371’
Shillong, Feb 18: NPP state chief and deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong has assured villages under Sohra constituency of creating better road infrastructure in the villages.
Campaigning for former MDC Donevan Wanlang at Khrang, Sohra on Tuesday, Tynsong said, “I urge the people of the constituency to take a united stand to vote for Wanlang so that it would further strengthen the sitting MLA Gavin M Mylliem.”
Assuring of providing better road connectivity for many villages, he said, “Therefore, if you make him (Wanlang) win, it will be easier for me to work.”
Meanwhile, he said, the government would soon construct a bridge to connect Kongthong with Khadarshnong and Wahkhen.
“We have already sanctioned the funds and construction will start very soon and once complete, tourists can walk to Wahkhen,” he said.
He asserted the need for vehicles to be able to ply from Swer and Wahkhen to Pomlum and Khadarshnong and said, “I have asked the sordar shnong, raid Wahkhen and Khararshnong to find land (for implementation of the project).”
“Therefore, it is important to elect an MDC and MLA from the same party so that they work together with the government for the development of the constituency,” Tynsong said.
Seeking to refute allegations that “NPP is a Garo party”, he said, “I (a Khasi) am the state president and Conrad K Sangma is chief minister and national president.”
Addressing the meeting, Wanlang said he was a Congress MDC from 2014 to 2019 and unsuccessfully contested assembly election against sitting MLA Gavin M Mylliem in 2018.
“However, after seeing how the MLA is working so hard for development of the constituency, I decided to resign from Congress to support him in 2023.”
Urging the people to support him in the upcoming KHADC polls, the former MDC said, “After defeating UDP MDC of Sohra, Titosstarwell Chyne, in 2014, I faced a lot of difficulties as there was no understanding between me and him as the former MLA of Sohra.”
“I was EM in-charge of Land and in 2016 there was no proper boundary and I had issued an order as per Council’s rules to provide free land registration to border residents. The idea was if people had land documents, it would be easier for Meghalaya to strengthen its claim over disputed lands with Assam,” he said.
Asserting that Sixth Schedule that Meghalaya has is more powerful than Article 371, he said, “Sadly, certain political parties are demanding Article 371 in Meghalaya… villages in Nagaland, which has Article 371, recently boycotted Lok Sabha elections demanding Sixth Schedule in those areas.”
“The NPP’s agenda is also to protect the tribal communities. In the past seven years, the NPP-led government has been able to take bold decisions on border issues besides ensuring holistic development,” he added.
