NPP seeks reasons for review of Garo customary laws bill

TURA: The two senior-most NPP members of district councils in the GHADC, former chief executive member Denang T Sangma and former executive member Dipul R Marak, have sought reasons from the Meghalaya government and the ruling Congress alliance in the district council for the review of the Garo Customary Laws Bill.
 “The government has claimed there is opposition to the present Bill from NGOs. Where are the letters of opposition?” questioned Marak during last day of the budget session.
“Garo Hills has innumerable NGOs buy only three organisations have petitioned the governor. The bill which was passed by a majority last time is now being put to a select committee by the same members who voted in favour of the bill. What does it tell about the capability of the 29 elected MDCs?” he asked.
Coming down heavily on a group called All A’chik Citizens Forum, former CEM Sangma lashed out at the organisation for mentioning in its petition to the governor that “only a few representatives” had given consent for the bill’s passage in March.
“The All A’chik Citizens Forum has insulted the mandate of the people of Garo Hills who had elected the 29 members to the district council,” Sangma said.
He further said the district council affairs department of the state government, which returned the bill to the GHADC, did not specify any reason while asking for a review.