SHILLONG, OCT 16: Newly elected HSPDP president Ardent M Basaiawmoit today predicted that the 2018 assembly elections will be a “turning-point” for the 47-year-old party as it is going to be voted to power in Meghalaya.
While he said he aims to fight for a separate Khasi state, a demand championed by the party’s founder late Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, he also informed that “in a different way” the party will not allow uranium mining in the state.
“The main goal is to strengthen the party and ensure it is voted to power in 2018,” newly elected president said while addressing the general council meeting of the HSPDP on Friday.
Basaiawmoit, also Nongkrem legislator said, “2018 will be the year, which the party will answer to the indigenous community and it will also be a turning point for the HSPDP.”
Recalling that during 1983, the HSPDP has had the opportunity when it was voted from as many as 15 seats, he however said, “But chance passed us by due to simplicity of our leaders that time,” adding “However, people now are saying that they would like to give the party a chance, which gives us every reason to believe and have high hopes in the days to come.”
According to him, though at one point of time, the HSPDP has been listed as one of the parties which was on the verge of extinction, but he said that the general council today testify that party has risen again to protect the interest of the indigenous community.
Stating that under his leadership, the demand for a separate Khasi-Jaintia state will continue to be an important issue and said, “But we will go in a different way which will be in action.”
He also assured that the party will continue to pursue the issue pertaining to the demand for immediate resolving the age old boundary dispute with Assam.
Reiterating the slogan of the party – ‘No to Uranium’, the newly elected leader said, “We will continue to stick to our stand on the issue. We will never allow the government to mine uranium since radiation cannot be prevented.”
Announcing the inclusion of new agendas into the party’s working manifesto, Basaiawmoit said, “As a new leader, I want to bring forth a new demand for inclusion of Meghalaya under Article 371, which provides the right to preserve and protect the interest of the indigenous community over land and others which even the Parliament cannot interfere.”
Further spelling out his priorities, he said while the clean politics campaign will be further strengthened, the party will also find out ways and means to address the issue of unemployment problem in the state besides.
Also stating that safety for women and children as one of top priorities of the party, he said, “We want to ensure the state is free from crimes keeping in mind the need to promote it as a tourist destination.”
Meanwhile, the new leader said at the moment the party’s focus is on the upcoming bye elections for the Nongstoin seat as well as the MDC seats in the KHADC.
Stating that the party’s wish is to retain the seat in Nongstoin and said the party will perform well in the bye elections of the district councils.
It may be mentioned here, the general council was necessitated after the HSPDP supremo Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, who was the longest serving legislator of the state, passed away last month.
Apart from Basaiawmoit, MLA KP Pangniang was elected as the new vice president, MLA Witting Mawsor as general secretary, MDC Teilinia Thangkhiew as Women Wing president, MDC Pyniaid Sing Syiem as Youth Wing president, Nolipstar Lyngdoh as joint general secretary, Shembarlin Khardewsaw as treasurer and Martil M Mukhim as auditor.- By Our Reporter
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