SHILLONG: The verbal slugfest between Bernard N Marak and John Leslee Sangma is intensifying with the former accusing the latter of fooling the public by highlighting the reservation policy.
In a statement on Wednesday, Marak wanted to know if he was so concerned about it why he didn’t raise his voice when he was still a legislator.
“Why now? When we talk of reservation, it should also touch the facilities promised to us. Look at Tura Super Market, 80% was supposed to be reserved for tribals but it is dominated by non-Garos and who is protecting them,” Marak asked.
According to Marak, it is an open secret and people of Tura cannot be fooled.
“He (Leslee) once stood against benami but now he compromised because he has turned into a politician,” Sangma said.
“Now votes matter. Locals in Tura suffer and are pushed back and non-locals emerge as prominent traders in Tura. Tell me who is behind it all? Is reservation not a matter of concern here,” he added. Marak pointed out that the stand of Leslee to oppose setting up of wine stores had in fact gave rise to illegal wine stores in all localities and boosted the use of drugs.
“Is this the achievement he claims? It actually failed. He never encouraged Garo musicians and athletes during his tenure. There was no sanction of funds to most of the youths but now he boasts about fair utilisation of the sanctioned amount,” he pointed out. According to Marak, Leslee cleverly dragged the development committees into the fund misutilisation scam.
Marak alleged that Leslee made all beneficiaries to sign and even take pictures so that he can lure them to vote for him.
“I do not think any development committees in Tura approved sanctioning of funds to Leslee’s close aides. They were made signatories but were never consulted before supplies and works were distributed,” Marak said.
He alleged that all sanctions were given to Sangma’s workers who are neither recognised suppliers nor professionals in any field.
“The question is why Augustine and Tom got the major share of works and supplies of CGI sheets, chairs etc when it could have been supplied by authorised suppliers. In five years, there is no visible development in Tura which can be credited to him,” Marak said.
