Demand for resolution against UCC turned down

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 21: The Meghalaya government today turned down the opposition’s demand for passing an official resolution to oppose the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on the ground that the Centre is yet to come up with a Bill on the matter.

The resolution to oppose the UCC was moved by an opposition Congress legislator from Mawhati Charles Marngar and supported by members of the opposition All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) and Voice of the People Party (VPP) in the Assembly.

In his reply, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the State government is very much against the concept and idea of the UCC as it goes against the idea of India which is ‘diversity’.

However, the government cannot just pass a resolution prematurely without knowing the content of the UCC Bill.

“The question arises that can we as legislature oppose or pass a resolution without knowing the content of the UCC Bill. Outside the House, we can speak on the basis of what we think may happen but as a legislature today if we are to oppose the UCC, the first thing we need to have in front of us is the UCC Bill,” Sangma said.

He said it doesn’t mean just because other States have done it, Meghalaya too should pass a resolution. “That is why, we need to apply our mind. Therefore, it is only when we see the UCC Bill then we take a stand as a government,” he added.

Further, the chief minister also assured that the House will stand united to oppose any move by anybody including Parliament to dilute the identity, rights, culture and practices of the indigenous people of Meghalaya.

“If there is any proposal in the proposed Bill to dilute the practices of the tribal in terms of religion, marriages and inheritance, the State government and the Assembly will never agree to it,” he stated.

He informed that the matter was also discussed in an MDA meeting on how to proceed on the issue.

Meanwhile, the chief minister also informed that the State government will soon submit its views and suggestions on the UCC to the Law Commission.

“We have fixed the time where the Cabinet will go through the suggestions, which will be in line with that the state will oppose it if there is a move to dilute our practices,” he stated.

Satisfied with the reply of the chief minister, Marngar decided to withdraw the resolution.

“Since I now understand the mind of the government that the government is also concerned about the UCC, I beg to withdraw this resolution. And I hope that the CM, the Cabinet and all 60 members that when the Government of India is going to implement the UCC in our country that time, I hope all of us will stand together and fight together and pass a resolution to oppose the UCC,” he said.

CM highlights transparency in power department

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said the Cabinet’s decision to approve a Rs 700 crore tender for implementation of the loss reduction project under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) reflects the transparency that the government power department has.

“Bringing it (tender) to the cabinet is an indication of the transparency that the department has, the minister has where he would like to share the procedure, the process followed, the steps taken in order to arrive to what we have arrived and to allot to work and to move ahead with certain aspects,” Conrad told reporters.

“You have to understand that it is a large tender, it is a Rs 700 crores tender and when a large tendering process like this happens, it’s a basic process or a kind of culture that we follow that any large decision that is there and a decision which could possibly have you know, people could misunderstand even though there is nothing to misunderstand but it has possibility,” he said while adding “So it is always a culture that we try to bring these kind of decisions to the cabinet for the sake of transparency. We are not trying to hide anything, it has been given all the details to the cabinet ministers and everything is in the open for people to see.”

 

Recently, the opposition AITC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma has questioned the Cabinet’s decision to approve a tendering process proposed by the power department and cautioned the cabinet ministers if it can be a trap against them.

Reacting to this, Conrad said, “It’s quite funny that Dr Mukul Sangma has questioned why. That means he is questioning the transparency procedure that we are having. If we wanted to do it quietly or if there was an intention then we would have never brought it to Cabinet.”

He said every detail about how many times the retendering, how many times the extension of the tendering was done it’s mentioned out there in the cabinet note and the cabinet ministers were briefed about it about the fact that the government had written continuously a couple of times to the REC and inform them about the different kind of issues that came up in the tendering process and sought their approval to go ahead because the tendering process had been extended had been re-tendered.

“And all the necessary procedures have been followed and only after we got the approval or a green signal from REC did we go ahead with the certain aspects. Of course procedure is not complete yet but certain parts are moving forward and in that process to ensure the transparency would be maintained we decided together both AT Mondal and myself that lets us take it to the cabinet and let everybody know what it is, ask questions about it, feel free to feel comfortable about all the questions so that there is no doubt tomorrow if anybody in the press or public asks us,” the CM said.

“So I think it’s just the opposite of what he (Mukul) had reacted to that. I think the fact that has been brought to the cabinet is something that one should appreciate that transparency is being maintained,” he further added.

Mukul warns of ‘trap’ waiting for Cabinet

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sep 17: Opposition AITC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma has questioned the recent Cabinet’s decision to approve a tendering process proposed by the power department and cautioned the cabinet ministers that this may be a trap against them.

He was referring to the decision of the Cabinet taken on August 25, where the work has been alloted to L1 bidder for implementation of the loss reduction project under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).

“I am questioning the intent of that particular cabinet agenda. The item for the consideration and approval of the cabinet which was brought by the power department itself is reflective of the underlying fact that there are certain irregularities in the process of tender otherwise if there is no irregularity why was it necessary for the power department to bring it to the cabinet,” Mukul told reporters.

He said there are already set of rules notified by the department of finance for tendering process and there is also CVC (central vigilance commission) guidelines.

“Now if PWD is calling tender, are they coming to the Cabinet to get approval? They don’t come so why MeECL has to come? MeECL is already an unbundled entity, it is no longer a state electricity board, it is a company,” Mukul added.

Further, the former chief minister said, “You have to ask the members of the Cabinet, you are approving somebody’s process of work which might have been irregular but in five minutes they have approved it. Now as a minister how do you know they have followed (the procedures) or not. If they have followed the procedures, why do they need approval of the Cabinet?”

He also pointed out that the recent charge-sheeting by the Lokayukta against former members of the GHADC executive committee was because of a collective decision they took as an executive committee.

Mukul further alleged that the chief minister Conrad K Sangma will put all the cabinet ministers into a trap because of such decision.

“Every tendering process has to adhere to the given norms which are in sync with the various notifications including the financial rules, including the CBC guidelines. Unless there is a deviation and irregularities why will they need (to bring it to the cabinet)? MeECL is a company. Therefore, it requires unearthing of the fact. What is the underlying thing and what exactly is there that it requires the cabinet approval?” he said.

“The approval of the cabinet to regularize a process in itself is inherently irregular. If cabinet approves, then the whole cabinet will be held responsible. So indirectly the ministers, who are unnecessarily being dragged into will also be (held responsible),” the former CM added further.

Mukul denies meeting BJP leaders

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 15: Opposition AITC leader and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today categorically denied meeting any leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“Has he (Ernest Mawrie) met me? Or has Dr Mukul met any of them? Please ask them. Okay, their politics does not probably happen without my name that is a different thing. Please ask them, don’t ask me,” Sangma told reporters.

He was reacting to the recent claim made by State BJP President Ernest Mawrie that Mukul Sangma was denied entry into the BJP by the party’s senior leaders in Delhi.

The former CM said he has seen such reports being circulated without asking him.

“I would have been happier if at least friends from the media would have given me an opportunity to comment before carrying such stories,” he said.

Meanwhile, the former chief minister said he is studying the whole political dynamic of the State before deciding their future course of action. According to him, this was necessary because of the outcome of the 2023 Assembly polls where the AITC managed to win only five seats in the 60-member House.

“Therefore, it is necessary for all of us to have an exhaustive due diligence of the overall political dynamics that have unfolded and the way it is going to be unfolded in the years to come and how we will navigate through this kind of situation, navigate for what, Navigate for ensuring that our objective which revolves around serving the people with the utmost sense of commitment and dedication and honesty and give the best that we can,” he said.

Sangma said there are reasons for people like us to feel concerned and worried because we had the privilege along with many of the leaders of the State to participate in collectively building this State.

“And if things are not going the right way and there is a need to look at all ways and means as to how to ensure that okay we do justice to the desire expectation of the people as everybody wants to have a good life, everybody wants to ensure that their children have a better life and how we can actually ensure that this kind of hope can be generated and they will see it happening. If people are feeling a little apprehensive of their future I think then there is a reason for us to really be concerned and see that we start looking how steers the State in the right way so that its future is better,” he added.

The AITC leader said that he is more concerned about creating that sense of oneness in the State of Meghalaya than joining other political parties.

“If Meghalaya can be a State where everybody has a sense of well-being, Meghalaya is vibrant, progressive and prosperous and you as a State are capable of contributing for the growth and prosperity of the nation so charity begins at home. I am more concerned about this beautiful State of Meghalaya where we need to create that sense of oneness,” he said.

Questioning the failure of political parties in Meghalaya to create this sense of oneness, Sangma said, “Has any political party been able to create this sense of oneness. I am afraid I am not seeing it. So there is a big challenge before us. So you can understand the burden on me as to what must be going on in my mind. Do you subscribe to the kind of environment that has unfolded in the preceding months? Do you want to see these kinds of similar things where everyone thinks my future is at stake? No, we don’t want to see that. Everybody should have that sense of hope where they see that the future is going to be better and when this can happen I think we are on the right path but at the moment this is not happening so we will have to make it happen.”

Meanwhile, sources in the party have indicated the possibility of Sangma floating a new political party in Meghalaya. However, the picture will only get clearer after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

George flags danger of wrong call on reservation policy

State vice president of the opposition All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) and former Umroi legislator George Lyngdoh has warned that any wrong step taken in regards to the state reservation policy would bring misunderstanding among the three major tribes – Khasi, Jaintia and Garo.

Lyngdoh said the state reservation policy is a very sensitive issue considering the fact that it relates to the aspirations and the future of the youth.

“Therefore, any wrong step in this direction being a sensitive matter would bring a different kind of emotions and misunderstanding that would be detrimental to the long historic bond and understanding between the various communities in the state, the major tribes,” he said.

“Therefore, the policymakers and the leaders have to take into consideration, the sentiments, emotions and historic aspects as well as also the need to maintain the communal peace and harmony amongst the three tribes. It should not come with any kind of thing that would only disrupt peace and harmony at the cost of the future of the youth. Any policy has to bring harmony and also equity,” the ex-MLA added.

On the implementation of the roster system, Lyngdoh questioned the state government’s decision to implement the roster system with a retrospective effect.

According to him, the court’s ruling was unclear and the order of the court has to be interpreted by the state government and in its interpretation, the state government took decision with a retrospective effect.

He said that the state government has to make the people understand why in the first place a retrospective effect was taken into consideration and not a prospective one.

When asked the court had clearly stated that these are policy matters best left to the legislature and the executive, the AITC leader said, “So the question is whether the state government hurriedly rush into the implementation of the roster without understanding the full implication of the court order. So whether that urgency was actually needed before the full understanding of the court order was actually imbibed by the policymakers and both at the executive level and also at the legislative level. So whether this actual understanding of the court order was actually discussed so whether it was left to one or two to decide with a retrospective effect.”

He alleged that some of the cabinet ministers do not even understand what a roster system is and said, “What I could hear from the discussion is that even some of the policymakers, some of the ministers being in the cabinet also could not understand what a roster system is. So now they have put themselves in a spot where now they not only have to understand the roster system, they also have to understand the retrospective and prospective effect.”

On the Voice of the People Party (VPP)’s demand review of the entire policy, Lyngdoh said if any policy is in question considering both their political aspiration and also taking the aspirations of the citizens, especially the youth into consideration, they should also come with a suggestion as to what they want adding that anybody can question a policy that is in place but the fact is it is upon the responsible leaders to suggest to what should be the next step forward.

“I would say that various political parties should come up with their own suggestions as well so that it is the collective responsibility of each and every political party and leader and in fact every citizen of the state if any policy is being questioned then we should also come with solutions as to how we will finally decide on a new policy or try to change an existing policy but at the same time maintain communal harmony and equity,” he added.

Further, Lyngdoh said for any policy matter, there will be a group that will be supporting that particular policy and there will be a group that will be opposing that particular policy.

“Therefore, if amendments have to be made to a particular policy, they have to take into consideration the aspirations as well as the current situation prevailing in the state,” he asserted.

According to him, the Constitution of the country has been amended hundreds of times because it need to take the aspirations of the people considering the historic meets where and also take futuristic requirements. Therefore amendments have to be made.