Shillong, Apr 8: Robertjune Kharjahrin, who is supported by the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) comprising UDP & HSPDP, has asked the people to reject the Congress as it will bring a law if voted to power to recognise civil unions between couples belonging to the LGBTQIA+.
LGBTQIA+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual. “+” stands for other identities.
Kharjahrin, while addressing an election campaign at Iawmusiang, Jowai, said, “We do not agree with the manifesto of the Congress, which seeks to bring a law to recognise such civil unions if they are voted to power.”
According to Kharjahrin, the Congress’ manifesto is an indication that they don’t respect the religious sentiments of the people.
“Therefore, one vote to Congress will be a support to this commitment, which according to us is highly unacceptable,” Kharjahrin said.
The manifesto says that ‘after wide consultation, Congress will bring a law
to recognise civil unions between couples belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community’.
However, another section of the manifesto says that “we will expand Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution to prohibit discrimination on the ground of ‘disability’, ‘impairment’ or ‘sexual orientation’.
State needs problem solvers: Jemino
Speaking at the rally, UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said the state needs more problem solvers than noise makers.
“We are a small community with too many diseases. However, we only have people, who shout they love the jaidbynriew. Yes, we do need noise makers but we need more problem solvers,” Mawthoh said.
“We have many leaders in Meghalaya but how many of them can manage the state?”he said.
On various issues including reservation policy, Mawthoh said, “We have worked so hard regarding the reservation policy. There was a protest regarding the reservation policy but I will tell you we sat for a total of 14 meetings with the legal experts seeking their views on the issue of reservation policy. We are concerned on the issue of CAA, UCC, border dispute, drug menace, and education.”
Criticising those castigating the UDP and HSPDP, he said, “You cannot say that UDP and HSPDP are useless. They are the oldest regional parties.”
According to him, the RDA will continue to make efforts to unify the regional parties and unite the people of Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
“My dream is to have only one united regional force in Meghalaya,” he said.
There are political parties which are trying to weaken the UDP and HSPDP, Mawthoh said.
“They started levelling various allegations that we are part of this government. In 2013, UDP won 8 seats under the leadership of Dr Donkupar Roy. I remember Dr Donkupar asked me whether I want to the in the ruling or in the opposition so I told him since we won only 8 seats, let us be in the opposition and we were there for five years. In 2018, since we have sacrificed in 2013, we thought that from 8 seats, our strength will increase to 24 – 30 seats. Unfortunately, we were defeated and we got only 6 seats in 2018. In 2023, from 6 we increased our strength to 12 seats under the leadership of Metbah Lyngdoh. Had it not been for spoilers, we would have got 20 seats,”he said.
Regarding the linking of UDP with the BJP, Mawthoh said, “There is also this allegation that UDP is working together with the BJP.
“We were slammed on social media. But look what happened now, the BJP is supporting the NPP. This clearly shows that the UDP does not have any relationship with the BJP. If we are connected with the BJP, it should have extended support to us. BJP has gone with NPP, so how can BJP be working with UDP”, he said.
