Shillong, April 15: Rajya Sabha member and former NPP state president WR Kharlukhi said he does not like to continue as MP for a second term.
His tenure will end in June 2026.
To a question on whether he will seek a second term, Kharlukhi said” “No I am sorry, I should retire. Government servant retires at 58. By next term, I am nearly touching 70, so I think young ones should come”.
On Tuesday, he met HYC members and assured to take up the issues of recruitment in NEIGRIHMS.
Speaking to reporters, Kharlukhi said the party will decide as to who will be nominated as the next Rajya Sabha member.
As far as the achievement of the MDA government during the past seven years is concerned, the NPP leader said the government, during the MDA-I, had submitted their report before the election highlighting the achievements and what they are trying to do in terms of road, tourism and others.
Pending resolutions
Kharlukhi said without a strong representation from the North East, it would be difficult to pressurise the Centre for immediate implementation of the inner line permit (ILP) and inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
Kharlukhi said the state Assembly had unanimously passed resolutions regarding the ILP and Khasi and Garo languages and the issues have been raised by him and other fellow MPs from the state in parliament from time to time.
“But what I am saying again and again is that until and unless we have a strong presence from the North East, it does not seem that we will get any result,” he said.
“I dont know we are pushing and central government is not giving. What I am saying again and again that until and unless we have a strong presence in the parliament which we are trying as an NPP to have quite a good number of representations from NE still we have not got, we got MLAs but not MPs yet.
until and unless it is like that it seems that it is going to be very difficult,” the MP added.
When asked Kharlukhi said, “No, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland they got long time back. Manipur got it last time and the thing is that the government of India is saying that Manipur does not have district council or something like that so they gave ILP. ILP actually is right from the British period and during the British period, ILP is to protect people coming from outside to our area but now it is different, it is to protect the tribals. This is the thing,”he added.
