Meghalaya: HSPDP organises seminar on Sixth Schedule

(By Daiaphira Kharsati)

SHILLONG:

The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) organised a seminar on the Sixth Schedule at KJP Assembly Conference Center, Shillong, Meghalaya, on Wednesday.

The resource person for the seminar, former professor of NEHU L S Gassah said that the Sixth Schedule is about self-governance. 

“The people who run the district council (MDCs) should know and have knowledge about the Sixth Schedule,” he said.

President of the party, KP Pangniang said that the people need to know the spirit and the state’s need of the Sixth Schedule.

He said that the HSPDP had submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister in 2019 with a request to amend Para 12 A (b) of the Sixth schedule, to replace the word “Governor” in place of “President” in Para 12A (b).

According to him, the amendment will re-empower the right and culture of the indigenous people of the state.

About the participation of non-tribals in District Council elections, Pangniang said, “We the people of the area, the Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills, vehemently oppose that non-tribal, with due respect, will take part in the Autonomous District Council elections.”

“If we allow non tribals, it will defeat the spirit of the Sixth Schedule as enshrine in the Constitution of India,” said Pangniang.

Section (b) states that the President may issue a notification by which any Act of Parliament will not apply to an autonomous district or an autonomous region in Meghalaya or any part thereof and any such direction may have retrospective effect.

(Edited by Gabriel G Momin)

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