Shillong, May 25: The banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has strongly criticised the Voice of the People Party (VPP) and the VPP-led Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), alleging political interference in traditional indigenous institutions and raising questions over the financial declarations of VPP leaders.
In a statement issued by HNLC general secretary Saiñkupar Nongtraw, the outfit rejected remarks made by VPP president Ardent Basaiawmoit cautioning against viewing the functioning of the KHADC through a religious lens. The HNLC alleged that the suspension of Pa’iem Ainam Manik Syiem by the KHADC amounted to a “political assassination carried out through legal procedure.”
The outfit claimed that following the suspension of Ainam Manik Syiem, the KHADC moved to appoint Alban Fedrick Syiem as Acting Syiem and alleged that similar developments were taking place in Hima Sohra.
According to the HNLC, the repeated suspension of Syiems under Section 7 of the relevant district council laws reflected a growing pattern of using legal provisions as political tools against traditional heads.
The statement further alleged that no independent inquiry or impartial judicial process was conducted before the suspension of Ainam Manik Syiem and accused the KHADC of acting simultaneously as complainant, prosecutor and judge.
The HNLC also criticised the historical structure of the KHADC, alleging that the institution was designed to place bureaucratic authority over traditional indigenous institutions.
In addition, the outfit questioned the financial declarations of VPP leaders based on their election affidavits filed before the Election Commission of India. The statement claimed that VPP president Ardent Basaiawmoit had declared total assets worth approximately ₹1.49 crore, including immovable properties, vehicles, jewellery and bank deposits, while declaring zero income tax liabilities.
The HNLC alleged that the VPP leadership projected itself as representing poor citizens during election campaigns while possessing significant personal wealth. It further claimed that several VPP MLAs were crorepatis or near-crorepatis according to their affidavits.
The statement questioned how party leaders maintained assets and election campaigns despite declaring zero income in tax returns and accused the party of presenting “populist theatre” before the public.
The HNLC concluded by asserting that the people of Meghalaya deserve transparency and questioned whether the VPP was genuinely representing the poor or functioning as “a party of crorepatis.”
