Central BJP leadership mum on Bernard case

SHILLONG, Aug 9: In sharp contrast to the allegations of the state unit that the case against party vice president Bernard N Marak is fuelled by political vendetta, the BJP’s central leadership has chosen not to interfere in the issue.
A party insider said the central leadership was apprised of the case but it opted not to take up a “personal matter” linked to law and order.
He said it was not known whether the central leadership had any official communication with the state unit.
BJP’s state in-charge M Chuba Ao had also claimed that Marak has been framed.
After staging a protest in front of the party office in Shillong, the state BJP leaders met Governor Satya Pal Malik a few days ago and demanded the removal of West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Swapnil Tembe and Superintendent of Police Vivekananda Singh Rathore for a free and fair probe.
State BJP president Ernest Mawrie told reporters that Malik favoured an independent inquiry into the incident. But the governor on Tuesday clarified he did not give any assurance in this regard.
The BJP leaders had lodged a complaint with Malik alleging that party workers were being harassed since Marak’s arrest, which was a clear case of “political vendetta”.
Attempts to contact Mawrie and Ao for confirmation were unsuccessful as they did not take calls.
Marak is in police custody in connection with three cases that were filed against him by the Tura Police.
These cases relate to immoral trafficking, and the presence of explosives as well as a POCSO case after police said one of the minors rescued on July 22 from his farmhouse at Edenbari had been sexually assaulted.