SHILLONG, JUNE 9: Meghalaya governor V Shanmuganathan assured that he would examine the original draft of the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2014 including the deleted sections and take a more ‘objective’ decision on the issue.
The assurance was given to the opposition All Regional Parties Alliance (ARPA) delegation who sought the Governor’s intervention for immediate ‘reinsertion’ of sub sections 8 and 16 of Section 5, which were deleted from the original bill.
The ARPA also submitted a representation along with the original bill to the Governor during the meeting on Tuesday.
“After a patience hearing, he (Governor) said that he would examine and study the original bill and assured to give a decision which would be objective not subjective,” ARPA leader Metbah Lyngdoh told newsmen after the meeting.
ARPA decided to approach the Governor after the Congress led People’s Democratic Forum (PDF) recently passed the rectified VAB with several rectifications, which were made as per suggestions of the State government.
When asked, Lyngdoh said, “We have informed him that out of 23 corrections, twenty we have accepted except for the deletion of the two clauses, which we feel constitute the spirit of the VAB.”
“We have also made it clear that the demand for re-inclusion of the two sections no way reflects hatred for ‘outsiders’ but it is in the spirit to protect and safeguard the indigenous community and its people,” he asserted.
ARPA also raised their concern with the governor over the bulldozing attitude of the ruling PDF while passing the rectified bill. Lyngdoh said, “The PDF wants to give importance on the numbers (majority) in passing the bill rather than consultations. If this is the attitude, then is no longer required oppositions to go to the House.”
The ARPA has also raised objection against the advance announcement of the PDF that the bill was passed while the house was still in session, to the public rally organized by the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong (SKRS) on May 30.
Earlier, reacting to the demand of regional political parties, chief minister Mukul Sangma had asked political parties to understand the ‘intricacy’ of the stand they are trying to have as ‘politicians’.
Stating that anybody elected as MLA or MDC has to take an oath and have to keep allegiance to the constitution, Sangma maintained that the two deleted sections are in conflict with the fundamental rights.
Answering to query, Lyngdoh argued, “As elected representatives, we have conducted a thorough study of whatever we are clarifying. We found that these deleted clauses are in no way conflicting with any existing laws or infringes the fundamental rights of anybody.”
Referring to Article 19 of the Constitution, he said, “Clause 5 of this Article clearly allows us to protect and safeguard the identity of our indigenous community.”
While saying there is no political connection with the issue, Lyngdoh said ARPA urges the people not to be misled as the ARPA has no intention to spread hate message through its demand, which is purely for the interest of the indigenous community.-By Our Reporter
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