Home MEGHALAYA VPP Urges DCA to address alleged prevention of public meetings by village heads

VPP Urges DCA to address alleged prevention of public meetings by village heads

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VPP Urges DCA to address alleged prevention of public meetings by village heads

The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has called on the District Council Affairs (DCA) department to issue directives to traditional village headmen, urging them to avoid actions that obstruct free and fair elections.

In a letter addressed to the Commissioner and Secretary in charge of the DCA, VPP general secretary and MP Dr. Ricky AJ Syngkon alleged that certain village headmen (rangbah shnong or sordar shnong) have allegedly prevented the VPP and its candidates from organizing public meetings.

Dr. Syngkon requested the department to direct all village headmen to facilitate the conduct of political meetings by issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) within a set timeframe after receiving applications. He emphasized that this directive should apply both during and outside the operation of the model code of conduct.

“There have been instances where our candidates faced difficulties in obtaining permission for public meetings and campaigns in Khasi and Jaintia Hills districts. Permissions are either ignored or granted after long delays, which disrupt our campaigns. In some cases, village durbars restrict public meetings to only those organized by them on a common platform,” Dr. Syngkon said.

He argued that such actions violate the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Indian Constitution, including Article 19(1), which ensures freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and movement across the country.

Highlighting the importance of political parties and candidates in the electoral process, Dr. Syngkon stated, “Candidates and political parties are key stakeholders in elections. They not only have rights but also represent the voices and opinions of voters. Free communication of information and ideas is essential for genuine elections.”

He further stressed that political parties, candidates, and their supporters have the right to share and exchange ideas through public meetings and other platforms of their choice.

The VPP urged the DCA department to act promptly to protect the rights of all political parties and ensure a fair and transparent election process.

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