SHILLONG, MAR 3: Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) today accused its former MDC Process Treasure Sawkmie for ‘back stabbing’ and ‘betraying’ the All Regional Parties Alliance (ARPA) led executive committee (EC), the KHNAM and the people of Mawlai constituency.
“His (Sawkmie) sudden resignation from the ARPA led EC and the KHNAM is an act of back stabbing as well as an act of betrayal against the people of Mawlai constituency,” KHNAM president Pyndapbor Saibon told newsmen on Tuesday.
Sawkmie along with Independent MDC Grace Mary Kharpuri quit ARPA and KHNAM during the just concluded KHADC budget session and switched allegiance to the newly formed Congress led People’s Democratic Forum (PDF).
Saibon reminded Sawkmie that he is also one of the four KHNAM MDCs who had pledged before the monuments of freedom fighters – U Tirot Sing Syiem and U Kiang Nangbah to remain till the end of term in the party for serving the interests of the indigenous people and the land. “This was taken in view of the absence of an anti-defection law in the autonomous district councils (ADCs) in the state,” Saibon said adding the party had not expected that Sawkmie, who is a seasoned politician, would reneged.
Touching on the political background of Sawkmie, Saibon said, “But we are not surprise as he (Sawkmie) is known for suffering from what we call “defection disease”. He said Sawkmie has defected first from the United Democratic Party (UDP), then Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP), Congress and now the People’s Democratic Party (PDF).
Saibon also reminded that the present KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum had to sacrifice the EM post just to give it to Sawkmie and subsequently MDC James Ban Basaiawmoit had to step down from the EM post in order to bring stability to the ARPA. “We as the KHNAM we had tried to show good examples,” he added.
Stating that main reason behind Sawkmie’s resignation is because he hankers for power, Saibon alleged Sawkmie along with some Congress MDCs have been trying to lobby hard with the ARPA EC to facilitate Uranium mining in West Khasi Hills District of the state.
“The ARPA EC led by Adelbert Nongrum is yet to give the no objection certificate (NOC) to the state government for handing over of the 20 kilometers road from Wahkaji
Saibon said, “They want to ensure that the EC is toppled so that Uranium mining can be facilitated and they can benefit from the project,” adding “This is a clear indication that Sawkmie has not only betrayed the ARPA and KHNAM but also tried to betray the indigenous community.”
“We also leave it to the wisdom of the people of Mawlai to judge the action of this MDC,” Saibon thundered.
Countering the allegation by Sawkmie that EC led by Nongrum is weak, Saibon said, “We as a party feels that just four months is not enough for Nongrum to prove his capability to lead the house.” He also said that Sawkmie had never proposed to the KHNAM executive committee that he is want or willing to take the CEM’s chair and the party came to know only when he defected to the PDF.
Adding to this, KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum alleged that during the crisis in the ARPA last year, Sawkmie had told him to go to the Congress for the post of CEM which he had refused. He said, “If Sawkmie is claiming that he is the only one from among the four KHNAM MDCs who is fit to be the CEM, am sorry as he is the only one who is fit to betray.”
On the move to topple the ARPA led EC, Saibon said that the KHADC is the only one who is contesting against the ruling of the Meghalaya High Court which has clipped the power of the traditional heads in the state.
“If the administrator’s rule is imposed as demanded by Sawkmie and his alliance, do you expect that the deputy commissioner will take this issue as top priority in the interest of the indigenous community,” Saibon said adding who will take responsibility to ensure that this issue is resolved. He said, “This shows that Sawkmie is involved in taking away the powers and rights of the traditional heads and institutions.”- By Our Reporter
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