SHILLONG, AUG 30: Five-months-old People Democratic Front (PDF), which received a major boost with 12 sitting KHADC MDCs officially joined the party as its candidates for the next year’s polls, today vowed to fructify the demand of a separate state for the Garos and the Khasi-Jaintia tribals if elected to power in 2018.
“The new government in 2018 will agree to the demand for a separate Garo land and in the Khasi-Jaintia state, Khasi language will be recognized as an official language,” Nongkrem MDC Hispreaching Son Shylla said at the party meeting to welcome the MDCs held here.
Shylla, a former UDP MDC, also said that the PDF if voted to power will take up five important issues which include health, education, empowerment, livelihood and social.
According to him, regional parties like the United Democratic Party (UDP) and Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) are growing old and it is time for the people to look for an alternative party which is the PDF.
Stating that the party also pledged to do away with the personal interview for job recruitment, he said, “The PDF is committed to ensure that there will be no marks for personal interview or it will be done away with if required.”
According to him, the personal interview at present is depriving the right of eligible candidates to get free and fair job appointments.
He also said that the party will also pursue the various issues taken up by the different NGOs of the state besides ensuring tribal areas are exempted from the MUDA and land document issued by the district councils are given recognized by the banks and financial institutions.
He said the five stars in the flag (saffron & yellow colour) of the PDF signifies the five qualities in the indigenous people which is “Tip Briew – Tip Blei” – to know oneself and “Divine Consciousness”, “Tip Kur Tip Kha” – knowledge of ones identity from the matrilineal lineage and also from the paternal lineage, know one’s mother tongue, value and land.
Also declaring that the 12 MDCs will also be the candidates for the 2018 polls in the state, Shylla expressed confidence that the PDF will be able to produced maximum number of MLAs to represent the party and the people in the state legislative assembly.
Shylla will be contesting against the sitting legislator and HSPDP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit from Nongkrem constituency.
He also added that the PDF was born out of the people’s assembly against the issue related to traditional institutions on May 30, 2015.
Apart from Shylla, the other MDCs joining the PDF include chairman of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) LG Nongsiej and 9 members of the People Democratic Forum (PDF) executive committee led by suspended Congress member Pynshngain N Syiem.
These are – Grace Mary Kharpuri, MDC of Nongskhen, James Ban Basaiawmoit from Mawkhar-Pynthorumkrah, Latiplang Kharkongor – Nongthymmai, Banteidor Lyngdoh – Mawkynrew, Albinus Lyngdoh – Umroi, James Sylliang – Mawhati, Blandingstar Warjri – Mawthadraishan, Hadrian Lyngdoh – Mawkyrwat, Morningstar Mawsor – Mawthengkut and Victor Ranee – Jirang.
Earlier, the PDF president Ivanlumlang Marbaniang while welcoming the MDCs said that their joining will be a huge boost for the party in the forthcoming elections.
In his speech, the party secretary Auspicious Lyngdoh Mawphlang informed the PDF was formed in the month of March earlier this year and the Election Commission of India (ECI) has recently recognized the PDF as a registered political party in the state.
“We will soon submit our proposed symbol for the party to the ECI for its approval next month,” he said while claiming soon after completion of the registration, many have expressed their keen interest to work with the party.
Earlier when it was launched, the PDF however could not come out with a clear cut “ideology” when queried by journalists but says fighting corruption, strengthening of traditional administration, poverty alleviation, youth welfare are on its top priority list.
Clarifying that the party was still deliberating to give shape to its ideology that time, Lyngdoh said, “The PDF is adopting a centre-left ideology which is to bring the government to the people. We will empower the people from all walks of life if voted to power.”
He further slammed the Congress-led state government for its failure on all fronts and said people are of the state are suffering because of lack of policies in place.
According to him, the state is yet to have its own education policy, sports policy, youth policy, and mining policy till today.
“Therefore the party is standing on two principles which are to bring a change and to protect and preserve the rights of our indigenous people and the community,” he said.
Stating that the party’s motto is ‘Unite, Protect and Grow”, he said it is with unity that the party can achieve its goal which is to ensure that it is voted to power in 2018.
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