Newmai News Network
Shillong: The United Democratic Party (UDP) and Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) under the banner of the Regional Democratic Party (RDA) today released its election manifesto and pledged to aggressively pursue with the Centre for immediate implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in Eighth Schedule and resolving age old boundary dispute with Assam.
The 25-point manifesto released by UDP chief Metbah Lyngdoh also assured to strengthen the autonomous district councils (ADCs) and bats for a meaningful peace talks with the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
The RDA has fielded former HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin as its candidate for Shillong parliamentary seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, to be held on April 19.
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The manifesto said the RDA voted to the parliament seek to pursue the proposed amendment to the Sixth Schedule to include amendment to paragraph 3 of the Sixth Schedule to ensure the word “President” should be replaced with the word “Governor” in paragraph 12 A (b) of the Sixth Schedule, stating that laws passed by the Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies shall not be applied in tribal areas regarding social practices, customary laws, religious practices, civil and criminal courts, traditional institutions, land, forests, and minerals.
It also seeks to advocate for changes that would have the Governor acting on the advice of the District Councils, to envision the spirit of Sixth Schedule Article 200; to push for direct funding under Article 280; to increase fund allocation under Article 275; and to advocate for Anti-Defection Laws.
The RDA said it would also aggressively pursue the demand for implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) adding that efforts would be made to address issues of border fencing and setting up of a Police Border Wing.
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It said that it would also vigorously pursue the inclusion of Khasi & Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India and push for making ‘Khasi’ and ‘Garo” as qualifying languages, apart from English and Hindi, for recruitment to Central Government institutions in Meghalaya.
On boundary issue, the manifesto said that the RDA will push to ensure fencing along the international border is done at the zero line and that due compens
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