TURA: The opposition to former ANVC (B) Chairman, Bernard Marak’s claim to be the self-styled Nokma of Tura continues to gain momentum with the Tura Garo Senior Citizens Forum (TGSCF) urging educated citizens of the town not to remain silent on the burning issue.
“Claiming himself as the self-styled Nokma of Danakgre, opening the Tura Nokma office, directing the citizens to surrender their pattas to his office and get new pattas from his office with a threat to take action against those who do not do so is a very serious matter. The Chambugong Mahari while condemning it has termed it as a breach of the existing principle of maharis. The learned citizens and the general public of Garo Hills should also not remain silent on the issue,” the TGSCF said.
The forum pointed out that it was the duty of the Chambugong Mahari to search for a second husband for Danakgre A’king Nokma, Enilla Ch Marak from her late husband’s clan who could then exercise the powers of the Nokma. “Instead under what circumstances is Bernard N Marak (Rimpu) claiming to be the Nokma of Danakgre as well as of Tura City,” the forum added.
The forum also urged Marak not to interfere in the works of the government to evict encroachers from the Tura Civil Hospital land so that infrastructure development can take place to make way for the setting up of a medical college in the region.
At the same time, the forum while urging the District Administration to go ahead with the eviction drive as per rules and regulations of the government, made an appeal to organizations like the Mothers’ Union, Council of Nokmas, Garo Graduates’ Union (GGU), Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Retired Doctors’ Union, All India Garo Union (AIGU), FKJGP, ADE, AAYF as well as all sections of the society to stand by the decisions of the government on the issue.