Tura, Feb 14: Tura BJP MDC in the GHADC Bernard N Marak on Monday said that the state government and the council of ministers cannot interfere in the affairs of the Council neither through the District Administration or the Police Department and termed the frequent involvement of the state government in its affairs as unfortunate.
“They are barred by the High Court through an order in 2002 passed by the Gauhati High Court AIR 64(69) on Sixth Schedule and role of the State Government and Council of Ministers. The order ruled, ‘The whole of the Sixth Schedule nowhere provides for any role to be played by the State Government. Duty has been cast upon the Governor to deal with the affairs of the Autonomous District Council independent of the control of the State Government. The Council of Ministers of a State has not been assigned any supervisory role as it would mean disappearance of the Autonomous Status of the Tribal areas’,” Marak said in a statement.
Coming down heavily on the state government for allegedly attempting to hoodwink the Garos, Marak said that the people were well aware of their rights now and are determined to fight for it.
“The new CEM should face the agitating NGOs instead of staying holed up in the political safe house in Shillong, clear the doubts of the people and face them or else resign. All should unite and refrain from deteriorating the situation in Garo Hills. In past many years, State Government violated the order of the High Court mostly in the case of GHADC which is why the MDCs think on the line of politics rather than their origin,” Marak said.
He alleged that in Garo Hills, the Ministers through their MDCs manipulated and changed the Hill provisions of the Sixth Schedule into non Hill provisions which diluted everything A’chik forefathers fought and died for.
“The political leaders diluted the Autonomous powers of GHADC by interfering in ADC’s independent functioning and left the Councils in debt. State took over most of the departments even to the extend of introducing Municipality in Tribal lands after changing the Hill provisions which violates the Article 243 ZC of the Indian Constitution. State also manipulated funds meant for the development of the tribal constituencies. State took away funds meant for rural development and misappropriated funds meant for tribal upliftment which is evident in implementation of 100.73 crore of which 40% benefited the political party which led the Executive Committee in GHADC. Even today, the tied funds sanctioned under 15 finance is taken away by the State Government and the political leaders are asking 10% to release an amount not less than 59 crore which was sanctioned by the Centre Government for GHADC. There are many other cases which is an open secret in Garo Hills which is seen in the expression of the public and NGOs. State’s direct and indirect interference in the matters of the Autonomous District Council have left GHADC high and dry,” the Tura MDC claimed.
Marak further alleged that reforms on dilution of funds to the Autonomous District Councils through provisions of an agreement signed between the Centre Government, State Government and the two groups of ANVC was being delayed intentionally because State government does not want Councils to be strengthened, become autonomous and independent and challenged the state government for an open debate if it was not convinced.