ADCs say ‘NO’ to implementation of Uniform Civil Code

The three Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) have unanimously decided to jointly pass a resolution to oppose the Centre’s move to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state.

The decision was taken at a joint meeting of the chief executive members (CEMs) of the three Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) – held in Shillong here today.

“We have unanimously decided that we will jointly pass a resolution that implementation of UCC in the Sixth Schedule area will be totally opposed (by us) and we also pass a resolution in our respective councils soon regarding this matter,” KHADC chief Titosstarwell Chyne told reporters after the meeting.

The UCC is a proposal to formulate and implement personal laws of citizens which apply on all citizens equally.

He said that the meeting had discussed at length the intention of the central government to introduce the UCC Bill in the country while adding that “we feel that UCC will directly had an impact on the powers and functions of the ADCs especially with our customs, our traditional practices, community as a whole.”

When asked if a special session will be convened in this regard, Chyne said hopefully a special session will be called by next month as they would like to speed up this matter.

“There are so many problems as I have said that it (UCC) will affect our traditional customs like marriage system. Once this UCC is implemented, we will have a uniform marriage system but here in our custom we have different, so religious and traditional custom will be affected. As Scheduled Tribe, we feel implementation of this UCC will not be acceptable in the state,” he said.

Further, the KHADC chief said that the state government will also have to go in the same line once a resolution is passed by the three ADCs as was done in the case of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

“…the CAA has been exempted in the Scheduled area I think the UCC should also be exempted from the Sixth Schedule. Therefore, we are demanding for exemption of the UCC from the Sixth Schedule area,” he further maintained.

BJP declares war on corruption

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 6: BJP leader and Tura MDC Bernard N Marak has announced that his party will launch a ‘war against corruption’ in all the constituencies of Meghalaya.

“People have voted for BJP hoping for a change and to end corruption and we are bound by the commitments we made during the election against corruption. Therefore, the “war against corruption” will continue in the State just like our Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a few days ago. Centre is sincere in implementing the centre schemes to every individual and family,” Marak said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

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Marak said that schemes being renamed and not reaching the public is a serious issue for BJP because the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi gets defeated and credit goes to individuals.

Stating that people’s cry and faith in Narendra Modi will not go in vain, the MDC said, “We will visit every constituency and village facing issues related to centre schemes. We will take note of the grievances being faced by them in terms of facilities provided by the Centre like road, water, electricity, ration, house, job cards etc.”

“We will also create mass awareness of the benefits of the centre schemes through social media so that people understand the visions of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We will ensure that MDA 2 will do its best to provide the best for the people in general unlike the previous years,” he added.