SHILLONG: The Garo National Liberation Army has rejected the statement of Union Home Ministry Director in charge North East, JPN Singh, ruling out discussions on the creation of a separate Garoland.
A statement issued by GNLA political affairs secretary Bikdot Nikjang Marak on Monday indicated that the banned outfit was looking for a political intervention on the issue, though this was not stated in so many words.
The Home Ministry official had recently said that talks with GNLA could take place, but had categorically ruled out any discussion on the GNLA’s demand for a separate state of Garoland.
“GNLA shall not entertain the bureaucratic attitude of JPN Singh,” the GNLA statement said, underscoring that Singh was just a bureaucrat.
“It is shocking that bureaucrats sometimes behave abnormally like legislators. Who is JPN Singh? Is he Parliament? Parliament is the highest law making body in the country,” GNLA argued, reposing its faith in Parliament.
“It is absurd and ridiculous that JPN Singh exercises the power under Article 3 of the Constitution of India,” the statement said, arguing that the creation of new states under the concerned article of the Constitution was the prerogative of Parliament. “I doubt he has a say in the creation of state under the aforesaid provision of the Indian Constitution,” Marak said.
“JPN Singh is neither a parliamentarian nor a guardian of the Constitution of India. It sounds more irritating and nonsensical when he makes such half- baked statements,” the GNLA political affairs secretary said.
Pointing out that former Lok Sabha Speaker and NPP candidate from Tura constituency, P.A. Sangma, had made the issue of Garoland his main agenda for the election, the GNLA wondered if that sounded irritating. “P.A. Sangma must be an irritating factor then,” the statement said.
“GNLA has nothing to learn from such a person,” Marak said, advising the “concerned persons” to avail themselves of books on law and political science.
