Sohiong polls: TMC candidate condemns rival’s statement

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Sohiong constituency, Stoding Thabah today condemned the statement made by NPP candidate on religious leaders at one of his political campaigns.

Speaking to media persons, Thabah alleged that the NPP candidate Samlin Malngiang in one of his campaigns has made ill statements against religious leaders of one particular faith, stating that pastors never practice what they preached.

The TMC Sohiong Block condemns the statement made by the NPP candidate and at the same time demands public apology for his statement.

The TMC candidate expressed confidence in winning the Sohiong polls and he claimed that sympathy votes will not play a big role as the UDP candidate Synshar Kurbah was against late HDR Lyngdoh during the 2018 election.

BJP for better education in Sohiong

Candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Seraph Eric Kharbuki has assured to fight for a degree college and a residential school in Sohiong constituency if elected as MLA in the upcoming election to be held on May 10.

Spelling out his priorities, Kharbuki told reporters today that his decision to contest in the up-coming is to become a leader or a people’s representative who will frame laws and policy and not merely a leader who is only concerned in distributing MLA schemes.

Kharbuki said that his objective of contesting the by-election is to serve the public of the constituency especially when it comes to education and to able to come up with policy that will benefit the farmers of the constituency and the state as whole

He added that he had vision for the need to have a degree college in Lum Diengiei and an Eklavya Residential School.

“Apart from schools and colleges in the constituency, I have also listed out in the manifesto to have a agriculture and horticulture office, state bank of India and Apex bank in Lum Diengiei, to promote tourism and sports in the constituency by constructing two mini stadium” said Kharbuki.

Kharbuki also stressed on the need to legalize direct funding through corpus funds to all Dorbar Shnong in order to implement various developmental schemes in all villages and to install street lights in various important localities in the constituency.

NPP in talks with PDF MLAs over merger

National People’s Party (NPP) National President and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma have informed that discussions with the two legislators of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) for merging with the party are on.

“Discussions will take place but as I said there is no final conclusion or anything yet. Therefore, we will wait and see when the time comes,” Sangma told reporters today.

Currently, the PDF has two MLAs – Banteidor Lyngdoh and Gavin M Mylliem- in the assembly.

If the proposed merger takes place, the strength of the National People’s Party will increase to 28 in the current 59-member House.

Earlier, Lyngdoh, who is also PDF working president had said, “Talks are on to merge with the NPP. We will take a call at the right time.”

Talks are on to merge the People’s Democratic Front, an ally of the ruling coalition in Meghalaya, with the NPP ahead of the May 10 poll to Sohiong assembly seat where election was adjourned in February, a PDF leader said on Thursday.

When asked, Lyngdoh said he cannot say anything further as decisions will not be taken by him alone.

Dry days declared in Sohiong

In view of the adjourned poll to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, the Deputy Commissioner (Excise) of East Khasi Hills district has declared May 8, 9 and 10, 2023 as dry days.

This is on account of these being the pre-polling and polling days. Also May 13 has been declared as a dry day on account of being the day of counting of votes.

This order is applicable in all areas falling under Sohiong (ST) Assembly Constituency.

Guv attends Shad Suk Mynsiem

The Governor of Meghalaya, Phagu Chauhan graced the annual Shad Suk Mynsiem held at Weiking Ground, Jaiaw.

Also present on the occasion was Deputy Chief Minister, P. Tynsong, VPP MLA, Brightstarwell Marbaniang, former MLA, Samlin Malngiang among others.

The three days Shad Suk Mynsiem which began on April 8 came to an end today. The active participation of tribal Khasi men and women in the Thanksgiving dance added grace and grandeur to the event.

KHNAM demands special session on Roster System

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 5: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) today demanded Governor Phagu Chauhan to call for a special session for a discussion on the roster system in the State Assembly.

This came after the Meghalaya High Court had dismissed a PIL with a note that the decision for a cut-off date or how far back the roster system would be made applicable was left at the discussion of the State Assembly.

“Therefore, in the interest of the general public at large we strongly demand that the Governor of Meghalaya call for a special session under article 174 of the constitution of India so that the matter is allowed to be discussed in length at the Legislative Assembly,” KHNAM vice president Thomas Passah said in a statement.

Passah said that the Court has apparently made it clear that it was up to the legislative to have a discussion in length and breadth on the subject matter.

He however said that the Speaker of the House has not allowed the discussion to be held in the last concluded Budget Session, which clearly implies that the MDA-1 and MDA-2 is fighting all out to ensure that the State Reservation Policy (SRP) and subsequently the Roster prepared was to benefit only a section community in the state.

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“Right from the induction of the SRP we have seen that there has been an injustice done to the Khasi and Jaintia Communities,” he alleged.

Passah, while mentioning a few instances, said, the SRP Resolution dated January 12, 1972, clearly stated that the reservation is to be done based on the population of the communities while also ensuring maintenance of administrative efficiency.

“The population of Khasi and Jaintia was 4,88,350 and of the Garo Communities was 3,25,872 as per the census 1972, therefore, allocation of equal percentage of 40 per cent each is not justified and violation of the clause of the SRP itself,” he added.

Further, the KHNAM leader alleged that the reserved quota for Garo Communities has been allowed to be carried forward multiple times.

“Initially, it was allowed to be carried over for one year vide O.M PER/222/71/141 dated 20 Apr 1972 and further the reserved quota for Garo Community was allowed to be carried over for the total of three years vide O.M PER(AR)/654/79/15 dated 12 Sep 1979. The State Government vide O.M PER (AR)/654/79/15 dated 12 Sep 1979 has also allowed special recruitment for the Garo Communities. This does not stop here, further the O.M PER 222/72/163 dated 28 May 1974 also allowed the 40% quota allocated to the Garo Community to be extended to candidates who do not belong to the Garo community and to Candidate from outside the State,” he said.

The initial SRP dated January 12, 1972, stated that: “If a sufficient number of suitable candidates for filling up the particular year are not available, then such vacancies will be available to others”.

“However, this provision has been manipulated and tampered with multiple times which is not only seen as an injustice to the Khasi and Jaintia Community but also a violation to the SRP itself which talks about “Administrative Efficiency”, Passah said.

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On the talking point “the Roster System”, the KHNAM leader also alleged that “the state Government (MDA-1) have introduced the Roster System retrospectively is seen as a political move pre 2023 General Election and it has been implemented by violating several proviso of Reservation Policy and its OM issued from time to time,” while adding that “the Roster System prepared have included in it the reservation that has been treated as lapsed as per the Notifications issued by the Personnel Department, therefore, it’s illegal.”

Yesterday, the division bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee dismissed a PIL filed by one Greneth M Sangma without going into the merits of the matter pertaining to the roster system for reserved seats in the State and said, “The Court may be called upon to look into the matter at a more appropriate stage.”

The Court said the judicial notice needs to be taken of the discussions pertaining to the roster in the new Assembly.

“However, it does not appear that any decision has yet been taken as to a cut-off date or the like or how far back the roster system would be made applicable. These are policy matters that are best left to the legislature and the executive and upon a firm stand being taken, it will be open to any citizen affected thereby to question the propriety thereof in accordance with law,” it had said while adding that “As of now, and without a decision in such regard having been taken by the Assembly which is actively discussing the matter, the present petition should not be entertained.”