KHADC CEM threatens fast unto death

Village Administration Bill

From Staff Correspondent

Shillong, May 5: The Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous district Council (KHADC) Adilberth Nongrum on Tuesday stated that he will embark on a fast unto death if the State government fails to endorse the council’s revalidated Village Administration Bill (VAB) in ten days time.

The CEM, accompanied by his mother and wife met the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and submitted a memorandum besides informing him about his intentions to go for the fast unto death. Nongrum, while informing the Chief Minister that the KHADC has re-framed and plugged the loopholes of the rejected Village Administration Bill further stated that his intention to embark on an agitation is clear if the government fails to get the legislation endorsed.

The government had returned the Village Administration Bill to the KHADC on March 28th with a rider to rectify the lacus in the Bill. The rider spoke about the lack of democratic ingredients in the legislation that aims at empowering the traditiol bodies.

Stating that his proposed fast unto death will be as an elected MDC of Jaiaw constituency and “not as a CEM or working president of the KHM, Nongrum added, “I have taken this to seek the government intervention to constitutiolly validate the customary practices and usages in the interest of the land and the people of Khasi-jaintia hills”.

Adelberth Nongrum who is already in the eye of the storm for alleged contempt of court also demanded form the State Government to refrain from legislating laws concerning the Rangbah Shnong. He said, “The Government of Meghalaya should not and must not legislate laws concerning the Rangbah Shnongs or headmen since this is a subject of the District Council and any attempt to do so can and will be seen as an attempt to demean and usurp the constitutiol rights of the District Council”.

The third demand placed by the KHADC chief is “to put on hold the drive for enrollment of voters in the state electoral roll till the Village Administration Bill is passed”.   Nongrum stated in the memorandum that was persolly handed to the Chief Minister, “ the above three demands are put up for your perusal and necessary action within ten days from today which I will be left with no other option but to lay down my life …. For which the state government will be solely and wholly responsible”.

Top Headlines

No stories found.
Sentinel Assam
www.sentinelassam.com