TURA: Independent legislator from Siju-Rongara in South Garo Hills, Rophul S Marak, has on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of his support to the Mukul Sangma-led Congress government in the state accusing it of failing to fulfill the people’s demands for development.
Rophul had won the Siju-Rongara seat in 2013 as an Independent candidate and later gave his support to the Mukul Sangma government which rewarded him with the position of a parliamentary secretary.
“I am answerable to the people of my constituency and the district. People in my constituency are asking questions as to what we have done in our tenure of five years. They are demanding answers. The development work in South Garo Hills has been dismal. Our district has suffered immensely due to bad roads and communication facilities absence. Since I am contesting the upcoming election as an independent candidate, I has withdrawn my support from Meghalaya United Alliance government led by Mukul Sangma”, Marak said in his statement.
The Siju-Rongara legislator accused the Congress government of turning down many of his developmental project proposals despite South Garo Hills being considered one of the most backward areas in the state.
“I had brought forward a proposal to the government to set up a civil administrative unit in Nongalbibra town, which is about 60 km from the district headquarters of Baghmara. But this was also not considered by the government,” claimed Rophul Marak.
He said that as a result of this neglect people of Nongalbibra and its adjoining areas continue to travel an entire day just to reach Baghmara for a simple affidavit and a caste certificate.
The legislator also revealed that a proposal from his side was made to shift the Baghmara C&RD Block to a rural area like Siju since the district headquarters was already under a municipal board. However, that proposal was also turned down.
He lamented that that people in remote, hilly and rural areas of South Garo Hills are living on the edge because of poor communication facilities and government was not making any effort to bring administration closer to the people.
“I had requested the government for construction of a multi-facility centre at Nongalbibra, which was even my election manifesto but it was also neglected. I am upset that the government failed to acknowledge the demands of my area”, he added.
He, however, acknowledged the government’s decision to establish police stations in different parts of South Garo Hills and a civil sub-division in Chokpot but added that people are getting angry with the government for failing to develop the region.