Shillong: Tribal village chiefs in Meghalaya have threatened storm the main secretariat in Shillong early next month if the Mukul Sangma-led coalition government continued to poke its nose into their business.

The announcement was made at a public rally which was attended by over a lakh people here coming from at least six Khasi Jaintia hills districts.

The chiefs are miffed because they feel that the Governor, by delaying assent to bills passed by them in their village councils, is undermining their authority. They are also angry at a government move to disallow village chiefs and other council members from holding ‘dual posts’.

“We have resolved to demand from the government under leadership of Mukul Sangma and his ministers to fulfil our demands within November 4,” Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep (SNSBH) president Dr W Kharshiing said.

“In case our demand is not met, the SNSBH along with public and supporters will march again on November 5 to demonstrate in front of the main secretariat,” he said.

Among the demands include immediate assent of the village administration bills by the Governor, reconvening of a special session of the Assembly to do away with the recently amended Prevention of Disqualification (Members of Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) preventing an elected representative to hold dual post.

The tribal chiefs also demanded that the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority not extend its jurisdiction to scheduled areas except in municipal areas.

According to Kharshiing, the other demands are also for the government to issue notification to all SDOs/BDOs and other officers to respect the residential certificates from the headmen, who have been duly authorized by the KHADC (Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council) Rules, 2015.

The rally also carried with them placards and banners as they shouted slogans condemning the Chief Minister and his cabinet ministers including Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, DCA Minister HDR Lyngdoh and Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Law Rowel Lyngdoh.

There was tight security in and around the rally routes, but hundreds of vehicles were stranded as all routes towards Lachumiere and the Secretariat are closed for two hours.

  Meghalaya, Northeast