Cong opposes govt’s proposal to increase number of seats in KHADC

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 2, 2019

SHILLONG: The opposition Congress has strongly opposed the proposal of the state government to increase the number of seats in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to 40 in the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India. 

It has also demanded the United Democratic Alliance (UDA)-led executive committee to convene a special session to discuss on the change in the proposal submitted by the state government to the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Rajya Sabha in New Delhi recently. 

Talking to media persons here on Saturday, Congress MDC from Rambrai-Jyrngam Bajop Pyngrope said, “We demand the EC to immediately convene a special session to oppose the state government’s proposal to increase the number of seats of the Council to 40.” 

He said there is a need to take a collective decision by all the MDCs on the matter so that it can be put forth before the Parliamentary Standing Committee, which is expected to visit the state very soon for taking the views and opinions of all the stakeholders. 

Pyngrope said that the committee constituted by the state government had agreed to the suggestions given by the KHADC and other stakeholders including NGOs and traditional heads. 

It may be mentioned here that the committee was headed by the District Council Affairs minister James K Sangma.

After holding a meeting with all stakeholders on September 26, Sangma had informed media persons that the committee has decided to take on board the suggestions given by all the district councils.   

“The KHADC wants that 29 members should be elected and two to be nominated out of which one will be reserved for women,” he had stated. 

The committee has accordingly submitted its recommendations including deletion of the word ‘unrepresented tribes’ from the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule. However, a delegation of the state government led by James Sangma has allegedly submitted a proposal to increase the number of seats to 40 instead of 31 during its meeting with the parliamentary standing committee in New Delhi recently.