Shillong: Several groups today took to the streets here demanding the state government to revoke the Ordinance aimed at empowering tribal chiefs and tribal institutions as it was "overstepping" into the domain of the Autonomous District Councils created under the sixth schedule of the Constitution.
Members of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) and eight other NGOs also threatened to intensify their agitation if the ruling Congress failed to revoke the Ordinance or did not refrain from drafting any laws for empowering traditional institutions in the state that could have a direct impact on the domain of the Autonomous District Councils.
"We'll go ahead with our decision to take up intensive agitations to ensure the state government officially revoke the Ordinance and refrain from drafting any laws for empowering the traditional institutions and heads, which are subject matters of the autonomous district councils," HYC General Secretary Robertjune Kharjahrin said.
"How can we not oppose the Ordinance which encourages self-styled headmen diluting the traditional system which have been in practice for so long and overstepping into the domain of the Autonomous District Councils," HYC President Peter Lawai said.
