SHILLONG: Sensing further attempt on the part of the Congress-led Executive Committee to table the Bill related to the codification of Garo customary law, the GNLA said that the move would not be tolerated by the outfit.
GNLA leader Savio Marak in a statement issued on Wednesday said the outfit was unhappy over the recent tabling of codification of Garo customary law in GHADC. “It has come to our knowledge that there are still some MDCs, including the CEM Alphonse Sangma, who are quietly going out to the Congress supporters in Garo Hills despite stiff opposition and agitation by many NGOs against the Bill.
“We support the timely intervention and protest by the NGOs and the public. It is time to campaign for the ouster of CEM Alphonse Sangma and we also appeal to all NGOs not to misunderstand and take our co-operation as diktat as we support all the Garo brethren who are working for the future and welfare of our people,” Marak said.
According to GNLA, Alphonse who is acting at the behest of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma is trying to give an opportunity for non-tribals to dilute the age-old traditions of Garo Customary law.
“So he (Alphonse) is no longer fit to be the custodian of GHADC, he is a betrayer and a middleman between non tribals and Chief Minister Mukul Sangma. His title Sangma must immediately be removed. He should be some Hussain, Ali or Khan. The Sangma Mahari should expel and excommunicate Alphonse Sangma for trying to accept non tribals as Garos,” the GNLA leader said.
Savio Marak further pointed out that the Chief Minister says he is unaware about the ongoing affairs in the GHADC. “It is correct when Mukul Sangma said that he is unaware about what is going on in GHADC. How he would be aware when he is busy touring as alleged by Saleng A. Sangma, the Gambegre legislator. Is he not the one who said during his campaign in non tribal areas that how a duck is expected to hatch a chicken by sitting on its own egg? Hence there is no mending ways to make non-tribals as Garos just by mere adoption laws”, Marak said.
According to the GNLA leader, people are correct when they say that Mukul Sangma should have been a tourist minister instead of holding the post of the Chief Minister as he loves to travel leaving behind a heap load of work pending. Everyone says that the Secretariat is in shambles as he is absent most of the time making foreign trips, he said.
“We warn Alphonse Sangma and all the MDCs who are trying to modify the Garo customary laws. They should preserve the culture and traditions practiced by Garos over centuries and there should be no quota for non-tribals based on reservation policy,” the GNLA said, while warning against any alteration in the law.