Govt accused of violating Council laws
TURA: The National People’s Party (NPP) has accused the Mukul Sangma-led Government of violating the district council laws by forwarding to the governor the name of another candidate for the nominated MDC’s post even though the GHADC executive committee had recommended Conrad K Sangma, younger son of Late Purno A Sangma.
The State Cabinet on Friday had recommended Congress member Selma D Shira for the nominated MDC’s post.
The Garo Hills Progressive Alliance currently running the Executive Committee of the GHADC, to which the NPP is a major partner, has termed the state government move as ‘unconstitutional’.
Following a party meeting at Tura on Saturday morning, the NPP issued a statement condemning the Meghalaya government for the move to recommend its own candidate for the district council post.
The party has decided to approach the Governor to oppose the government’s recommendation.
“The state government had advised for nomination to the Governor of yet another person overlooking the earlier advice to the Governor by the GHADC for the approval of Conrad K Sangma as nominated member. This is a clear violation of the Rules 6 (1) of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951,” stated the NPP in its release.
The party has decided to approach the Governor and submit its resolution asking him not to accept the proposal of the state government. It also announced that a poster campaign would be taken up to make the public aware of the issue and a sit-in demonstration in front of the GHADC office will also take place on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, deputy Chief Executive Member (DyCEM) Augustine R Marak questioned the move by the state government to forward the name of Mrs Shira when the GHPA had unanimously recommended Conrad Sangma’s name way back in November, last year.
“That file has been sitting at the CM’s desk since then, waiting to be passed. Several reminders were sent regarding the issue but no reply was received. Now out of the blue they have sent their own nomination,” an angry Augustine Marak pointed out. He added that the mandate from the people of Garo Hills was for a non-congress government in the district council and it should be respected.
“The government has no right to deprive the people of Garo Hills from their choice of suffrage and it is not only condemnable in the strongest words but also absolutely ill-timed,” said Augustine Marak while mentioning the recent passing away of P A Sangma and accusing the state government of showing ‘disrespect’ towards the departed leader.