The Synjuk Ki Rangbah Kur ka Bri U Hynñiewtrep, an assembly of clan leaders, has rejected claims that the scheduled special meeting with the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has anything to do with party politics.
The KHADC will hold the assembly with all the clan leaders, Hima, Dorbar Shnong, Rangbah, Seng/Dorbar Kur, Seng Kynthei, and Seng Samla of the Khasi Hills districts to discuss the implementation of the Administration of Elaka Amendment Act 2023 and the Khasi Social Custom of Lineage Amendment Act 2023 at the Polo Grounds on January 18.
With the district council elections on February 21, this move has been seen as a deliberate political move.
Working president of the synjuk Erwin K Syiem Sutnga refuted the claims and said it is not a political meeting but a meeting of the ‘Jaitbynriew’. He said the two laws was approval by the Governor for the indigenous people and their protection.
He also said the laws were designed by all the political parties, including the opposition in the KHADC for the welfare of the indigenous community.
Sutnga said that the district council election would be declared on January 27 and people will have their own choice to choose their candidates.
He said that the meeting would also emphasize the importance of strengthening the sixth schedule of the constitution of India.
Meanwhile, secretary of the Synjuk RL Blah lauded the district council and said that the last grand meeting of the jaitbynriew was in 2015, when a law was passed disempowering the rangbah shnong and the dorbar shnong.
He said the two new laws are of utmost importance that also gives recognition to the women and youth organisations, which are within the ambit of the dorbar shnong. Recognition of these bodies would curtail the “menace of many menaces”, including drugs, he added.
