SHILLONG, JUNE 2: HSPDP leader Ardent Basaiawmoit on Tuesday challenged the Congress led People Democratic Forum (PDF) for an ‘open debate’ on the VA Bill to proof as to who is playing politics with the issue- the PDF or ARPA.
“We proposed to all the 16 MDCs of the PDF to initiate for open debate on the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill (both original and amended),” Basaiawmoit, also a former KHADC CEM, told newsmen.
Basaiawmoit said that they can initiate the open debate on the VAB clause by clause in their own respective constituencies including CEM PN Syiem, Dy CEM PT Sawkmie, EMs Grace Mary Kharpuri and Banteidor Lyngdoh.
His statement as a reaction to the allegation by the PDF accusing that the All Regional Parties Alliance (ARPA)’s protest on the deletion of two clauses of the VAB is just to get ‘political mileage’.
The ARPA had strongly objected to the deletion of the two clauses which include Sub sections 8 and 16 of Section 5 of the VAB, citing these are important for safeguarding the identity of the indigenous people.
According to him, the open debate will bring out a true picture who is trying to play politics with the issue related to the village administration bill.
He said, “The issue of VAB is not a political issue of the either the HSPDP or Ardent,” adding “If at any point of time am found to mislead the people, I am ready to even resign as an MLA and MDC.”
“Out of 23 corrections, we the ARPA have accepted all but we cannot compromise on the two clauses which were deleted as these are important which seeks to protect the indigenous community,” Basaiawmoit said adding “While they say the clauses comes into conflict, we say they should be reinstated since the strength of the VAB lies in them.”
Referring to the claims of the PDF that there are other clauses in the VAB which empowers the dorbar shnong, he said, “They (PDF) said that Section 9 (12) states that a Rangbah Shnong cannot issue NOC or Residential Certificate without the prior approval of the ‘executive dorbar’,” adding “Now, why only the executive dorbar where is the dorbar shnong which the VAB is supposed to empower. The decision of the executive dorbar which means executive committee can always be change.”
According to him, as traditional practice, the dorbar shnong as a whole should be informed before issuing residential certificate or NOC.
Earlier, the PDF while justifying the deletion of the two clauses also said that there is a section which empowers the dorbar shnong to maintain a village register, which will help check entry of outsiders.
On this, Basaiawmoit, however, said, “We want to know how they will register when the traditional practice was to inform the dorbar shnong before anybody wish to reside in the village,” adding “The village register seeks to register all inhabitants.”
He further stated that the VAB was introduced and passed last year is to empower the traditional institutions and to ensure the Rangbah Shnong is accountable to the dorbar shnong.
“The Section 5 (16) which was deleted from the original bill can to a great extent help the state government to track even criminals,” he reiterated while citing instances where law enforces failed to track down criminals from outside the state.
Stating that to alleged that the ARPA is doing politics is very wrong, Basaiawmoit said, “We want to ensure to have a VAB that will check and balance on the issue and the two clauses which were deleted were frame as per the provision of the Constitution of India.”
The former KHADC CEM also accused the PDF of making the issue political when it has misled the people attending the Dorbar Ri organized by JAC of Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong (SRS) on May 30, by informing all 30 MDCs have passed the VAB, while special session was still going on.
“The deletion of the two clauses also shows that the PDF is not only trying to make political issue but is trying to please the Governor and the law department,” Basaiawmoit said adding that the PDF has failed to justify the reasons behind the deletion on the floor of the house.
Claiming that there is huge reservation from members of the public on the matter, he said, “The leadership of the PDF will never be able to bring a law which will protect the indigenous community.”- By Our Reporter
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