The National People’s Party (NPP) has continued to hit out at Voice of the People Party (VPP) president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit over the latter’s old suggestion that Meghalaya be brought under Article 371 of the Constitution in order to protect its native tribals.
Article 371 has special provisions for certain states. Among those in the North East, Article 371A applies to Nagaland and 371G to Mizoram, for example. They limit the applicability of laws passed by the central government in these states if they conflict with traditional norms there.
Basaiawmoit had, in the past, been somewhat ambivalent about the district councils. However, when he raised the matter of Article 371 in the Assembly in 2015, the idea found few takers. Incidentally, after rejecting it when it was in government, the Congress Party warmed to 371 when it was in opposition.
In 2019, Ampareen Lyngdoh spoke in favour of 371 in the Assembly. Since then, however, she has defected to the NPP, which opposes 371.
Speaking at an election rally in Mairang for Lyngdoh, the NPP candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat, state party chief and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that Basaiawmoit wants to weaken the institution of the district councils with the implementation of Article 371.
“This means the power of the Syiems, Himas, Raids, Elakas, Shnongs and Kurs (clans) would be weakened,” Tynsong said, adding that anyone who wants to abolish the district councils should not be trusted.
Basaiawmoit is not running in this election, though his VPP is fielding a candidate for Shillong.
Tynsong defended the district councils, saying that they have come up with regulations to protect land rights, culture and traditions of the indigenous people and the state government wants to strengthen the three councils.
