SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has accused the Voice of the People Party (VPP) of double standards regarding land protection and the role of traditional bodies, urging the VPP-led Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to safeguard local institutions in its land legislation.
Speaking during the autumn session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Sangma rejected allegations of procedural lapses in state land acquisitions, insisting that all government actions follow legal norms and transparency.
He agreed with VPP President and Nongkrem MLA Ardent M. Basaiawmoit’s call for mandatory consultation with traditional authorities before making major land decisions.
However, the Chief Minister pointed to a contradiction in the VPP’s stance: while the party demands local consultation at the state level, the VPP-administered KHADC is proposing amendments to its own land law that remove the requirement for prior consultation with traditional bodies—including the Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid, and Dorbar Hima.
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Sangma specifically cited Section 16 of the draft Regulation and Registration of Land (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to delete this crucial clause.
Calling the move disappointing, Sangma argued it undermines the public rhetoric of the opposition and strips traditional bodies of their historic role as community guardians.
He challenged the VPP and KHADC leadership to practice what they preach by reinstating the mandatory consultation requirement in the land law, ensuring local communities retain their voice and oversight in land-related matters.
(4FrontMedia news)
