Voice of the People Party (VPP) president Ardent M. Basaiawmoit today said that the party is not in a hurry to make a foray into Garo Hills although some respectable people from that region have expressed desire that the party should put up a candidate for the Gambegre by-election.
“We want people (in Garo Hills), like in Khasi Hills, not to support us hastily without understanding our principles as a party. People should first understand on what principles our party was formed. If we go to the Garo Hills we will explain to them,” Basaiawmoit said.
On whether the VPP will contest the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council elections, he said that as of now the party will concentrate on the 2028 Assembly elections.
“However we cannot predict what developments we may see in the coming days or months,” Basaiawmoit added.
He also pointed out that leaders from various corners of the North East had voiced their appreciation of the principles of the VPP.
Basaiawmoit informed that some indigenous leaders from Tripura wanted to meet the VPP leadership. He also said that the party has recently met leaders of ZPM (a political party from Mizoram) and also indigenous leaders from Assam.
“There is a feeling among the different indigenous tribes of the North East region that there is a need to stand together to protect our identity,” the VPP president said.
Basaiawmoit also said that recently when he was in New Delhi, during the oath taking ceremony of Shillong MP, Ricky A J Syngkon, he impressed upon the need for parliamentarians of the North East region to work together since many laws of the Central government is against the culture and way of thinking of the indigenous people.
He also said that the VPP will try to reach out to the other regional parties in the North East.
‘Article 371 protects local interests’
Voice of the People Party (VPP) president and legislator from Nongkrem constituency Ardent M. Basaiawmoit today said that Article 371 of the Constitution for Nagaland and Mizoram protects them from interference of the laws of the Central government.
“See what is happening now in our State. We cannot mine stone and sands since the central laws are being enforced,” Basaiawmoit said.
“As leaders of the VPP we will never mislead our people but we have only one objective and that is to ensure the coming generations of our indigenous people will have a future which is safe,” he added.
The VPP president pointed out that in recent days, there are some elements who are trying to create confusion among the public by saying that the party wants the Sixth Schedule in Meghalaya to be abolished.
“If the District Council is so powerful then why has it not been able to do anything to ban coal mining or on stone and sand quarrying in the State,” he asked.
Basaiawmoit also said that certain lawyers are saying that the Sixth Schedule is more powerful than Article 371 even as he asked how many litigations such individuals have won to put forth such an opinion.
