SHILLONG: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) on Tuesday asked the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council to amend the District Council Rules to bar non-tribals from contesting and voting in KHADC elections, warning that delays risk repeating the controversies now roiling Garo Hills.
In a letter to Chief Executive Member Pyniaid Sing Syiem, KHNAM working president Thomas Passah said the party had already flagged the need to revise Rules 128 (1) and 128 (3) of the 1951 Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous District Rules in April 2025 and January 2026, but no action was taken by successive executive committees.
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“We have requested several executive committees since 2014, but sadly all of them have remained silent without taking the issue seriously,” Passah wrote.
He pointed to GHADC nominations that drew non-Garo candidates, attributing it to the failure of MDCs to strengthen important laws.
The KHNAM also submitted a draft amendment to the KHADC that would bar non-Khasi tribe persons from voting or contesting the KHADC elections.
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It proposed that regarding the qualification of electors, in paragraph 128 (1) sub paragraph (d), the sentence starting from provided that a person not belonging to a scheduled tribe residing within the territorial limits of the said autonomous district be deleted in toto and replaced with a proviso stating that a person not belonging to a Khasi tribe shall not be entitled to vote in the KHADC election. It also proposed that paragraph 128 (3) be deleted in toto.
“Maybe the Garo Hills incident will make you think for the future,” the letter stated, urging the executive committee to act and ensure the governor’s assent at the earliest.