Congress to wait for outcome on amendment of 6th Schedule before taking a call on pulling out of NPP-led EC in KHADC: Pala

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 20, 2024

The opposition Congress on Friday said that it would wait for the outcome of the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution before taking a decision in regards to its alliance with the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).  

“We have a strategy, we have a plan. We have discussed with everyone and we are on the right track as of now because we have decided to do something at an appropriate time, to have a proper way of withdrawing,” Congress chief Vincent H Pala told reporters after a party meeting held here.

“We are not a party to join today and leave tomorrow. We are aware that the damage has been done but at the same time it cannot be you join and leave like that,” he said.

Pala reminded that the Congress’ intention of joining the NPP-led executive committee (EC) in the KHADC at that time was because of the amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution. According to him, the party cannot leave halfway.

“We thought that the Sixth Schedule was the gift of the Congress to the people of the North East. When it is amended, we should have hands in it. At that time, the district council would have gone for administrator rule but we thought that why should we surrender. We thought we should not surrender but we should protect the people of Meghalaya by involving in the amendment. The amendment is in the process. It is not yet over. Discussion between the Centre and the States and district councils is in the process. So we cannot leave halfway,” he said.

“You know the pressure of the people, we know the emotions of the people but leaving the people halfway in case they are manipulated without our knowledge I think it is not fair on our part. Therefore, we are determined that come what may, we will see that the amendment should be fair, it should be beneficial to our people especially in terms of the Sixth Schedule, the gift of the Congress to the people of the North East, a Constitution within the Constitution. That is our intention,” he added.

Asked, the Congress chief made it clear saying, “We are not saying to put up or pull out. We will see what is the outcome of the amendment (of the Sixth Schedule)? We will see how far we can protect, preserve and defend our people. That’s why we are in that line.”

“It depends on the intention. Our intention is to see that the amendment protects the people. As far as possible and practicable, we should protect our people to the end.

Losing and winning the election is the other part but whether our intention is right to see our people are protected, but the BJP’s intention is to amend it without taking the interest of the people into consideration as they are in the ruling, they think they can do whatever they like but we should also express our views and ideas and opinions on this issue.”

Majority of the party workers had suggested the need to immediately pull out of the NPP-led EC in KHADC citing the alliance as the main reason for the defeat of Pala in the last MP election.

On this, Pala said, “Losing and winning elections is one part of it. We discussed today in the meeting and I expressed and I explained to them and all of them agreed to our idea as we are here to protect. We may lose the election at the beginning but we should not change our ideology. We may lose and win elections but if our ideology is firm, people will realise. We should not think too  much on winning or losing elections, our intention is to protect, preserve and promote the culture of our people.”