Newmai News Network
Shillong | February 6
Former Nongkrem legislator, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit has slammed the MLAs from Khasi-Jaintia Hills region for their failure to protest against the Centre’s move to repeal the words ‘Khasi-Jaintia’ from the preamble of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), 1973.
Addressing a rally at Student’s Field, Jaiaw on Thursday, Basaiawmoit said, “Our leaders should have protested against the Centre’s move. Now that they have repealed, do you think they would give in to the demands of the state government to implement Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya?”
The former MLA also alleged that there is some kind of understanding between the Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma and Home Minister Amit Shah for not implementing ILP in the state.
Basaiawmoit is also of the opinion that Shah has insulted the delegation from the state who met him, when he told them that they should go back to Shillong and celebrate Christmas first and come back to Delhi to discuss the resolution adopted by the Meghalaya to implement ILP in Meghalaya.
He also said that the state needs constitutional provisions like Article 371 so that laws made by the Centre which affect the indigenous people of the State would not apply in Meghalaya.
According to Basaiawmoit, the State has its own religious, social practices, customary law and procedure, administration of civil or criminal justice involving decisions according to customary law and ownership and transfer of land.
In this backdrop, he said that the State should have its own special laws which would be in accordance to the customs and practices of the indigenous people.
Basaiawmoit also rued the fact that even though the State is rich in natural beauty and has abundance of mineral resources, these are misused by a ‘certain section of people’.
Alleging that there is illegal transportation of coal right under the nose of the Police and the Transport department, Basaiawmoit expressed deep concern over this issue.
“Both the Home Minister and Transport Minister should be accountable to the public,” the former MLA said even as he alleged that only those in power benefit from illegal transportation of coal while the government is going around saying that the state is facing a financial crunch.
He said that the revenue accrued from transportation of coal should have gone to the government’s exchequer for building infrastructure by way of roads, schools and hospitals.
“We need a revolution to fight corruption,” Basaiawmoit asserted.
Meanwhile, in today’s rally, the former legislator resolved to launch his movement known as ‘Iada ia Ka Ri’ (Protect The Land).
Basaiawmoit also said that he would soon convene a similar rally with the traditional chiefs of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region and also unite all the groups fighting for implementation of ILP and the exemption of the state from the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
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