Shillong, Dec 27: The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) has reiterated its demand for creation of a separate Khasi-Jaintia state. And the party plans to raise this demand with the Centre.
After chairing the General Executive Council (GEC) meeting of the party here on Monday, HSPDP president KP Pangniang said, “We have decided to raise our demands before the Government of India.”
He said the party will further create awareness among the people of the state on the importance of creating a separate Khasi-Jaintia state.
“We have also decided to work together with the Garo State Demand Committee (to achieve the demand),” Pangniang said.
When asked if the party would also seek the support of other political parties, the HSPDP president, however, said, “It is too early to approach other political parties. Since, this is the main issue of the party, we will try to propagate and bring it to the notice of the people of the state, to get their cooperation so that people will know what is the value if the party moves for a separate state.”
“(Therefore) it is high time for us to organize and move this issue and hopefully we will get positive response from the people,” he added.
On the other hand, HSPDP leader and cabinet minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar said that if the party has to seek the support of other political parties, discussion has to be there.
He said infact in a coalition, there will always be a common minimum programmes which are acceptable to the political parties (in the government).
“(However), we are yet to discuss the issue (with the coalition partners) but we are happy that now as a party we have officially expressed that we are for and we want to work together with other parties in the state,” Tongkhar said.
Office bearers for women and youth wing
Earlier, Pangniang informed that the party has unanimously elected its office bearers including the women’s wing and youth wing of the party.
“Today we have unanimously decided to rebuild and strengthen the party as part of preparing for the 2023 Assembly elections,” he said.
Party’s other Issues
While revisiting the party issues, Pangniang said the party will continue to demand the Centre for amending Para 12A(b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
He said the party also continues to raise the issue of boundary dispute through the active participation of its MLAs.
“We are so grateful to the government of the day for its effort to proceed and process the settlement of the long pending border issue,” the HSPDP chief added.
