HSPDP reiterates demand for separate Khasi-Jaintia state

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 27, 2021

The Hills State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) has reiterated its demand for creation of a separate Khasi-Jaintia state. 

After chairing the General Executive Council (GEC) meeting of the party here on Monday, HSPDP president KP Pangniang said, “We have decided to raise our demands before the Government of India.” 

He said the party will further create awareness among the people of the state on the importance of creating a separate Khasi-Jaintia state. 

“We have also decided to work together with the Garo State Demand Committee (to achieve the demand),” Pangniang said. 

When asked if the party would also seek the support of other political parties, the HSPDP president however said, “It is too early to approach other political parties. Since, this is the main issue of the party, we will try to propagate and bring it to the notice of the people of the state, to get their cooperation so that people will know what is the value if the party move for a separate state.”

“(Therefore) it is high time for us to organize and move this issue and hopefully we will get positive response from the people,” he added.

On the other hand, HSPDP leader and cabinet minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar said that if the party has to seek the support of other political parties, discussion has to be there. 

He said infact in a coalition, there will always be a common minimum programmes which are acceptible to the political parties (in the government). 

“(However), we are yet to discuss the issue (with the coalition partners) but we are happy that now as a party we have officially expressed that we are for and we want to work together with other parties in the state,” Tongkhar stated. 

Earlier, Pangniang informed that the party has unanimously elected its office bearers including the women’s wing and youth wing of the party.

“Today we have unanimously decided to rebuild and strengthen the party as part of preparing for the 2023 Assembly elections,”he said. 

While revisiting the party issues, Pangniang said that the party will continue t demand the Centre for amending Para 12 A (b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India. 

He said the party also continue to raise the issue of boundary dispute through the active participation of its MLAs.

“We are so grateful to the government of the day for its effort to proceed and process the settlement of the long pending border issue,” the HSPDP chief added.