By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Garo National Council (GNC) legislator, Clifford Marak on Monday questioned the Governor’s address on law and order situation while citing a few instances which contradicted the governor’s statement that law and order situation in the State was well-under control.
“I don’t believe in the Governor’s address. How can law and order be stable when people are still afraid to come out freely?” Marak questioned adding that the same was evident during the election process when ANVC-B cadres fired on air at a gathering where Social Welfare Minister Deborah Marak was present, compelling her to run for safety.
Stating that militant activities are happening on a daily basis in Garo Hills, Marak lambasted the police department for its inefficiency in ensuring safety and protection to the residents of Garo Hills.
Referring to the agreement signed between the Union Government, the State Government and the ANVC-B to grant more power including financial power to the GHADC, the GNC legislator said the same was never mentioned in the Governor’s address while enquiring about the progress of the agreement made.
“Let’s hope the agreement does not lapse because if the governor fails to take up this matter seriously, it might arouse the frustration of the ANCV-B cadres compelling them to return back to the jungle”, he said while further seeking answers from the house as to whether the same power granted to the GHADC will affect the KHADC and JHADC or not.
Stressing on this point, Marak made a humorous statement stating that rather than giving more power to the GHADC, it would have better to give the Garos their own state.
Requesting Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma to immediately address the ANVC and GNLA crisis in Garo Hills, Marak said, “Much confrontation is going on with GNLA cadres. I am not supporting, but common people are suffering because of it.”
Meanwhile, turning to education, GNC legislator called upon the state government to ensure regular payment of the teachers’ salary both deficit and adhoc while asking the chief minister who holds the finance port folio to seriously look into the matter.
Marak shifted the attention of the house to the problem of backwardness and financial constraints of the people of Garo Hills asking the government to provide free education upto higher secondary level to prevent the youth from going astray and joining militancy which they considered it to be easy money.
Raising the issue of border dispute between Meghalaya and Assam before the house, Marak confidently said “I think there will be no difficulty in solving this problem because if we turn to the administration, we see the congress rule at the centre, in Assam, in Meghalaya and even in the district councils”, adding that there should be no problem if the chief minister of both the state are serious enough to tackle this issue amicably.
Marak also questioned the non-availability of head of departments at the three newly created districts except for Ampati, South West Garo Hills which is the constituency where the chief minister represents. “If the chief minister can create head of departments in all the three districts, then there will be plenty of job opportunities for the unemployed youth”, he added.
