HNLC demands rotational CM system to ensure equitable leadership among all communities of Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 27, 2024

The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) on Wednesday made three demands that include a rotational Chief Minister system to ensure equitable leadership among all communities of Meghalaya.

In a statement, HNLC general secretary cum publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said “We demand: 1. Immediate parity in political representation and ministerial positions for Khasi and Jaintia MLAs in the current government.

2. A rotational Chief Minister system to ensure equitable leadership among all communities of Meghalaya.

3. Developmental justice, with equal allocation of resources and attention to the Khasi and Jaintia regions, which have been neglected for decades.”

He said that the HNLC issues this urgent message to the Khasi and Jaintia people of Meghalaya. 

“For too long, our Hynniewtrep identity has been suppressed, our rights ignored, and our voices silenced. It is time for us to stand united against the deliberate marginalization of our people in the governance of our state,” Nongtraw said adding “Over the past 17 years, the political leadership of Meghalaya has been monopolized by the Garo community. The Chief Minister’s position, which ought to rotate among the state’s communities to reflect equality and fairness, has remained in the hands of Garo leaders. This prolonged rule has been marked by policies and decisions that favor Garo interests while neglecting the legitimate needs and aspirations of the Khasi and Jaintia people.”

Stating that the injustice does not end there, he alleged that  the National People’s Party (NPP), a national party that claims to represent the whole of Meghalaya, has become an instrument of Garo domination.

” With the majority of its MLAs hailing from Garo Hills, the NPP has sought to sideline its Khasi and Jaintia representatives, stripping them of key portfolios and denying them their rightful place in the state’s governance. This is not a coalition government of equals; it is a blatant display of Garo supremacy,” Nongtraw said while stating that “the Hynniewtrep people will no longer tolerate this systemic exclusion. Meghalaya was created as a state for all its people—Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo—but the balance of power has been unjustly skewed. This betrayal of our trust and rights cannot continue unchecked.”

Nongtraw further alleged that Garo Hills enjoys the lion’s share of development, institutions, and opportunities, the Khasi and Jaintia Hills have been left with crumbs. 

“To our Khasi and Jaintia representatives in government:

You were elected to be the voice of your people. Do not allow yourselves to be silenced by the Garo-dominated leadership of your parties.

The time for compromise has passed. Stand firm for the people who elected you. Refuse to be sidelined by the Garo bloc within your party. Failure to act now will mark you as traitors to your own people.”

“We urge you to awaken to this reality. Support regional parties and leaders who prioritize Hynniewtrep interests. Reject the politics of domination imposed by national parties that fail to understand or respect our unique identity and rights.The HNLC remains committed to the cause of Hynniewtrep self-determination and sovereignty. We will continue to fight against all forms of oppression and ensure that the voice of our people is never silenced,” he concluded.