SHILLONG, Feb 24 � With the current session of Parliament not listing amendment to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, the National People�s Party (NPP) has demanded immediate elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
The amendment of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution is necessary if some of the demands of the Achik National Volunteers� Council are to see the light of day. The militant outfit wants the strength of the GHADC increased, but without an amendment to the Constitution that is not possible.
The Congress-led Meghalaya government has put on hold the elections to the council, stating that the elections would be held after the amendment incorporating the demands of the ANVC.
The ANVC, Centre and State government recently signed a peace agreement as per which the militant outfit decided to give up arms.
NPP spokesperson James K Sangma said, �Chief Minister Mukul Sangma is trying to fool the people of Meghalaya by extending the term of the Congress-led Executive Committee of the GHADC through blatant lies and deception.� He added that the current session of Parliament has not listed any business on amendment to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The Chief Minister had earlier extended the tenure of the GHADC saying that Parliament would take up the Bill relating to the amendment. In fact, the tenure of the council has been increased on several occasions to accommodate the demands of the ANVC.
�The NPP feels that such kind of irresponsible behaviour of Dr Sangma is very unbecoming of the position he holds. The NPP demands immediate notification of elections to the GHADC, since no amendment to the Sixth Schedule is going to take place for the next six months,� K Sangma said.
