UDP releases election manifesto, says no to uranium mining

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 11, 2019

SHILLONG: The United Democratic Party (UDP), one of the biggest regional parties in the state, has assured to bring in good governance by making the autonomous district councils ‘corruption free’ if it is elected to power in the February 27-elections.

The party has also pledged to say ‘No’ to uranium mining and ensure mining of other minerals is regulated as per law.

“We will ensure good governance. In the past, the UDP executive committee have been able to ensure district councils are free from corruption,” UDP Senior Working President Bindo M Lanong told reporters after officially releasing the party election manifesto here on Monday.

Lanong was reacting to a query that the manifesto was silence on the issue related to the corruption practices in the district councils. The UDP is fielding candidates from almost all the seats in both the KHADC and JHADC.

Stating that the party would also ensure transparency in the functioning of the district councils by streamlining the rules and regulations, the UDP leader however lamented that the previous ECs have misused the loopholes in the rules which led to loss of revenue.

The UDP in its manifesto has assured to push for the introduction of the anti-defection law in the autonomous district councils to prevent elected members from shifting allegiance from one party to another.

“This (anti-defection law) will help to bring stability and transparency in the ADCs as well as ending the culture of horse trading besides avoiding having 5-6 CEMs in five years,” Lanong said.

He said the party wants the Centre to speed up implementing the amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Indian Constitution which also seeks to introduce the anti-defection law since the MDCs are also an elected representative like the MLAs and MPs.

Lanong said the party will also ensure that the various markets should serve the interest of the indigenous people while lamenting that at present, more than 70 percent of the traders in Iewduh which is the oldest traditional market belongs to non-indigenous communities.

“This is the failure on the part of the previous EC and Syiem of Hima Mylliem. We will strictly enforce the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulations since such markets should give more opportunities to tribal traders,” he said.

Asserting the need to preserve and protect the environment, the party said it would ensure the green covers of the forests under the district councils are maintained.

The UDP also assured that its executive committee would not allow mining of uranium under the jurisdiction of the district councils citing that it will affect the health being of the people.

Meanwhile, Lanong said that the party will not allow political interferences in the appointment of traditional heads including Syiems and Dolois. According to him, the appointment of an Acting Syiem will only arise if a case is pending before a Court.