Congress divided over empowering traditiol institutions

FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Sept 2: The ruling Congress party is on two poles when it comes to empowering the traditiol institutions.

A day after the Cabinet decided to replace the two month old ordince after consultation with the stake holders, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Pynshngain N Syiem, also a congress legislator vowed to move ahead with his mammoth meeting with the traditiol chiefs and headmen of four districts.

Political observers viewed this as a rebellious move by the CEM and two time legislator who is leading the Congress party in the KHADC. However, when The Sentinel elicited his opinion on the ‘rebel tag’, Pynshngain N Syiem said, “Mind you, the district councils have been constituted to preserved the traditions and customs of the people, but the State government never consulted the KHADC before coming out with anything relating to the ordince or its proposed replacement.”

“I am heading the Congress led executive Committee in the council and I’m duty bound to defend and live up to the spirit of the sixth schedule,” stated the Congress CEM known to have been a baiter of the State Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.

Asked on whether the holding of the proposed meeting with the traditiol heads tantamount to revolt against his own government and party , Syiem said, “The Congress party has always carry the confidence of the people and the proposed meeting is in line with the objective of taking a decision after an interaction with the public.”

The CEM alleged that the KHADC was not even consulted on the proposed draft bill to empower the traditiol institutions, leave aside the ordince that was promulgated in the recent past.

While the apparent differences is simmering in the Congress fold, the Minister in charge of District Council Affairs (DCA) HDR Lyngdoh hastily told The Sentinel, “The proposed bill or replace provisions of the ordince will not come into conflict with the District Council laws and Chief Minister should not have any problem with the KHADC chief calling for a meeting of the stake holder.”

However, ahead of the September 5 meeting at Polo ground, the Shillong MP and former Chief Minister D.D Lapang and PN Syiem had a long elaborate meeting on Tuesday, thus creating insinuations on whether this is another issue to stir up Meghalaya game of campaigning against the Chief Minister ‘not of their like’.

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