By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 2: The state BJP vice president and Tura MDC, Bernard N Marak asked the Meghalaya government to stop all “unconstitutional” activities on the Garo tribal lands and cautioned that the people would not hesitate to die if pushed.
“Our fathers died for these lands and we will not hesitate to do so. Stop all activities on our lands and let our people be in peace,” Marak said in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills.
Informing the DC that he has a copy of the proceedings of a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma regarding the B-Mahal land at the Tura Circuit House on May 20, 2022, he said: “The proceedings… revealed… how a half-baked cake would be fully baked by the MTDC and MIDC.”
“The conspiracy plotted against the people of Garo Hills over 5,000 hectares of land at B-Mahal which would be sold to MTDC and MIDC is all real and your urgent order (Ref no: 59/2022/B-Mahal-LB/06) issued on September 26, 2024, directing four state officials to conduct a joint survey of the land at B-Mahal along with the revenue staff of GHADC connects the dots of the secret plot to sell the Garo people’s land,” he added.
He said the DC’s clarification on social media platforms about land digitisation is misleading as the state is not the implementing agency in this project but the PMU (project monitoring unit). “You should stop lying to the people as it only taints your chair and vows. I would still appreciate it if you could apprise me under which section and provision of the law, you issued an order to conduct a joint survey of the Scheduled Lands of the Scheduled Tribes. And kindly apprise me, who authorised you to conduct the survey of the B-Mahal when the GHADC EM in charge of land was unaware of it?” he asked the DC.
Reminding that B-Mahal was merged with Garo Hills during the British era as there were frequent conflicts in those areas due to the intrusion of the non-tribals, he said: “After that, these lands were brought under the provision of the Sixth Schedule in the interests of the hill tribals and handed over to the GHADC to protect it from the intrusion of the non-tribals including the state government.”
“In spite of that, the state eyed these lands and the conspiracy was plotted with a few GHADC MDCs. I was also informed that you even measured the lands in my area, namely Walbakgre, Nikwatgre, Niksenggitim, Diringga, Leper Colony, and ITI, without seeking permission from the Nokma and the GHADC which is a gross violation of the Sixth Schedule and deliberate attempt to violate the rights of the hill tribals,” he added.
Stating that the agreement by the ANVC groups with the Centre and the state government intended to bring history back and protect the rights of the Garos, he said, “Your order violated the provisions of the Sixth Schedule and for that, I want to call upon you and your officials to an open debate.”
“I will not tolerate the violation of the ‘Law of the Land’ by an outsider. You should first check if your residential quarters and your office premises have a valid land document. Your office did not pay the due fees to the Nokmas for decades,” he added.
He further said, “Lastly, I am not only the MDC of Tura but also the one who drafted and negotiated the historical Agreed Text for Settlement by the ANVC groups in 2014. Therefore, the agreement which was signed to protect the tradition, culture, rights, practices, and identity of the Garo people is on the verge of being trampled which I cannot allow as without land, the Garos will have no identity. The survey of B-Mahal lands and Tura areas by you is not constitutional.”