Meghalaya Cong, allies against state-wise minority status

The Meghalaya Congress, along with the regional parties like the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM)

The Meghalaya Congress, along with the regional parties like the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) — they are also part of the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) Government in the state — have asked the Union Government to rethink the proposed 103rd amendment of the Constitution. The proposed amendment seeks to accord state-wise minority status to communities instead of having a national parameter for the same.

Senior Congress leader and Union Tribal Minister P R Kyndiah met Union Minority Affairs Minister A R Antulay recently and asked for a national parameter to recognise minority communities in the country.

He has conveyed to the Union Minister that the present minority communities would suffer if the proposed amendment is carried out.

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The UDP said the Union Government’s effort to bring about the amendment was “against the spirit of the Constitution”.

UDP leader Bindo M Lanong said the party is surprised at the myopic vision of the present leadership in Delhi, which is trying to make such a decision. He also said the state parameter, which the Union Government proposes to use for according minority status, threatens to deprive Christians in the Northeast of their minority status.

The Christian community in Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland, at present, fall in the Christian tribal category which has been accorded minority at the national level.

The KHNAM is already on the job of creating a consensus in the state to oppose the proposed amendment.

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KHNAM general secretary Erwin Sutnga told The Indian Express that his party is talking with the church leaders, women’s groups and other leaders to evolve a consensus on this.

Sutnga said that the KHNAM would also approach all the political parties in the state to join efforts to impress upon the Central Government to accord minority status as per the present national parameter.

He said the proposed state wise parameter for recognizing minorities would create problems for minority communities like Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribes.

Even the Garo Students Union (GSU) has expressed its opposition to the proposed amendment.