The Joint Action Committee (JAC) along with Khasi Student Union (KSU), Jaintia Student Union (JSU), Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) and many other NGOs has decided to opposed the plying of trucks to the state of Meghalaya without obtaining License from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
The Union also said that even those with National permits for importing products to the state need to obtain trading license from the Council.
The Meghalaya Parliamentary Secretaries’ termed INVALID
Hour after the Meghalaya High Court declare ‘The Meghalaya Parliamentary Secretaries’ as invalid all Ministers voluntary resign from their respective post of ‘Parliamentary Secretaries’. The following MLAs who had held the post of parliamentary secretaries include, Cherak W. Momin, Brigady Marak, Sengnam Marak, Rophul S. Marak, Samuel Sangma, Limison D. Sangma, Winnerson D. Sangma, Kennedy Cornelius Khyriem, Robinus Syngkon, Micheal T. Sangma, Justine Dkhar, Ashahel D. Shira, Stephanson Mukhim, Noverfield R. Marak, Marthon Sangma, besides Comingone Ymbon and Celestine Lyngdoh.
It may be noted that one person identified as Madal Sumer from Panaliar in West Jaiñtia Hills previously has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the validity of the Meghalaya Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2005.
Sumer added that in few days he would file a representation before the Governor seeking disqualification of all the MLAs who were named in the PIL. He also said that the state government should direct the MLAs holding office of profit to return all the salary, perks, which they have withdrawn from the government from the date of their appointment for serving in the “unconstitutional office” as they stand disqualified from that date onwards.
“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is brought under the name of totalitarianism or in the holy name of liberty or democracy?” – Mahatma Gandhi
Elections in Meghalaya are due to be held in the month of February 2018. But all the political parties are upbeat. Every political party has a reason to believe that Congress is down and out. However, Dr Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh a Cabinet Minister in Mukul Sangma government feels otherwise and says that it is wrong to wipe off Congress. BJP which has no MLA in the state of Meghalaya is confident to form the next Government and have appointed the BJP National Spokesperson Nalin Kohli and Union Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam, as the BJP’s in-charge of election in Meghalaya are frequently visiting Shillong, meet the press and grabbing every opportunity to get publicity and space in the newspaper. On the other hand the regional parties believes that people are fed up with the Congress and anti-incumbency factor will play a major role in isolating Congress from the election scene. NPP appears to have made its presence in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills better, as seven MLA’s and five MDC’s have already joined the party till 28th October 2017. The seven MLAs who have inclined to join NPP are Prestone Tynsong, Rowell Lyngdoh, Sniawbhalang Dhar, Ngaitlang Dhar (all from Congress), Remington Pyngrope (UDP) and Independents Stephanson Mukhim and Hopeful Bamon. The MDCs who have inclined to join are HS Shylla, Pyniaid Sing Syiem, Ricky Shullai, Victor Ranee and Jansing Tynsong.
NPP is having reasonably good presence in Garo Hills. They are bound to give better performance in the coming elections. Dr.Mukul Sangma the Chief Minister of Meghalaya should not be undermined as he knows how to play his cards well. He is the only Chief Minster after S. C. Marak who has completed his full term in the office. All attempts to destabilise him have terribly failed in the past. It is also not clear whether voters will buy the concept that Dr.Mukul Sangma is corrupt. Every body is saying so but nobody is telling what corruption he did? The National Secretary of BJP of Scheduled Tribe Morcha, Hayithung Bill Lotha recently in a press conference termed Dr. Mukul Sangma as corrupt. Reacting to this Dr. Mukul Sangma threaten to go court and term the word as irresponsible. The term “corruption” is grossly misused in Indian Politics and it has reached to such a height that honest and dedicated bureaucrats are shying away from moving the files. This is dangerous for the development of the nation. It is a sweeping generalised remark and lacks merit. Eastern Panorama in its efforts to understand the mood of the people spoke to all the political parties and ask them five common questions. They are as follows:
The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has decided to refer the pending KHAD (Village Administration) Bill 2015 to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). This decision was taken during an Executive Committee meeting of the ruling People Democratic Forum (PDF).
Speaking to the reporters KHADC Chief Executive Member P.N. Syiem said that the follow up is either by sending a representation to the MHA or by setting a delegation of MDCs along with officials who will visit New Delhi to seek clarification on the status of the VAB. In a nutshell the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill 2015 was passed by the KHADC to empower the traditional institutions and their heads within the jurisdiction of the Council which was pending for over two years.
The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) on Friday announced the office bearers of the party in North Shillong Constituency with an aim of providing goodand clean governance and unearths all corrupt practices.
The office bearers elected are the women’s wing and youth wing. Elected members was felicitated by HSPDP chief, Ardent M. Basaiawmoit in the presence of HSPDP candidate, Alester N. Diengdoh, MDCs, Teilinia Thangkhiew, Samlin Malngiang, and other HSPDP leaders, besides senior advocate, Ganold Massar.
while address the party workers Basaiawmoit said that his party has chosen the path to enlighten and not to fool the people on many issues and also called upon the people to use wisdom and conscience before taking a stand on any issues or electing a public representative by emotions.
In the year 2015 the Synod had circulated letters to all its units regarding ‘Aadhaar’ and its resemblance to that number of the beast “666” which is from the Bible. To clarify on its stand The Khasi-Jaintia Presbyterian (KJP) Synod Sepngi has called out to the people that Aadhaar enrolment should be based on people’s decision. Rev W.C. Khongwir, Chairman of Synod’s Social and Economic Life Development Department (SELDD) told the press that “We have clarified in the letters circulated to all units of the Church that there is no connection between ‘Aadhaar’ and that of number ‘666’ from the Bible and people should feel free whether to accept or reject ‘Adhaar’.
Furthermore the SELDD will organize “Festival of Peace” at Lyngktop Field, Mawphlang on 2nd of December to strengthen the bonds of friendship and understanding with other communities in the state. The main objective of this festival is to unite the whole Khasi community irrespective of faith and beliefs.
Thieddieng Women section oppose Mawphu Hydro Electric Project
Women section of the residents of Thieddieng has opposed the Mawphu Hydro Electric Project implement by North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) claiming that the project destroyed the cultivation land owned by the villagers.
Speaking to the press conference on Friday Smiti P. Wanroi alleged that with the implementation of this project by NEEPCO tress which bear fruits and food products are not even spared. She also added that NEEPCO has dug a tunnel without even consulting the land owners.
The women section had also discuss the matter with KHADC Chief who is their local MLA and MDC Mr. Pynshngain N. Syiem but he did not pay any heeds to their complains.
The Meghalaya government is set to cancel several power projects of over 550 MW that are pending with private power companies. There are over 16 power projects mostly undertaken by private power companies since 2007 out of which several project are facing the threat of scraping.
There are approximately 6 power project that could face cancelation after the meeting that would commence on 2nd of November. These projects includes Umduna (57 MW), Umjaut (69 MW), Rangmaw project (65 MW), Kynshi Stage II project (325 MW), Narringre (300 MW), Shallang (60 MW).
