PDF doors are open for all: Syiem

FROM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Dec 19: Former Congress MLA Pynshngain N Syiem who formally joined the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) on Tuesday said that no party was “untouchable” in politics and was willing to work together with any party after the 2018 Assembly elections.

However, his proposal came along with a rider, “…but we will not compromise on the ideology of our party,” Syiem told media persons after a rally held at Polo Grounds to welcome him into PDF’s fold.

At the rally, the party also announced Syiem’s me as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the upcoming 2018 assembly polls.

When asked why the people of the State would vote for the PDF – a newly formed party, Syiem said that it has a new vision for the people of Meghalaya.

According to Syiem, the issues taken up by the PDF was for the interest of the common people of the State.

The PDF leader said that the State despite its 25 years of existence does not have policies for farmers, the educated unemployed youths or even an education policy. “Our main agenda is to make policies for our own people that will fit into our system,” Syiem said. Reacting to the warning of the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), that it will expose his corrupt practices, Syiem said that the party was referring to the case of misappropriation wherein the Secretary of the Khasi Hill Autonomous District Council (KHADC) was involved.

The PDF leader said that necessary action in the case like magisterai inquiry and a probe by the House Committee of the KHADC on the findings (of the magisterial enquiry) has been taken.

Syiem informed that an FIR has been filed against the Secretary and Police are investigating the matter.

“Why is the HSPDP in a hurry?” Syiem said.

He also said that as of now he was contesting only from Mawsynram constituency despite rumours that he was contemplating to also fight from North Shillong.

“As of today, I am contesting only from Mawsynram. But I can’t tell about tomorrow,” Syiem said.

Earlier addressing the rally attended by PDF supporters from across the State, Syiem said the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA-II) has failed miserably.

He alleged that the MUA-II along with the ruling coalition in the KHADC adopted different kinds of “political tricks” to bring him down.

Referring to the “hurriedly” passed Prevention of Disqualification (Members of Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) (Amendment) Act, 2015, Syiem alleged that it was designed to destroy his political career.

It may be mentioned that out of eight MLAs, seven legislators from different political parties were forced to resigned as members of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) due to fear of disqualification.

Syiem, however, was the lone legislator who challenged the Act until the Meghalaya High Court disposed of a PIL seeking disqualification of MLAs holding the post of MDCs based on the Governor’s order which ruled out that the office of an MDC is not an office of profit.

“After they failed to upstage me through this act, the Congress then suspended me, but this too backfired since as many as six MDCs resigned in protest,” he said.

He also came down heavily on the ruling Congress after the Meghalaya Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2005 was also declared invalid by the Meghalaya High Court leading to the resigtion of 17 parliamentary secretaries.

“All these have only reflected the inefficiency and incompetency of the Congress party,” Syiem said.