By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 8: Amid fresh dissent in Garo Hills over state government’s offer to pay the pending salaries of the aggrieved GHAC employees, State BJP Spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang has urged the authorities to address apprehensions surrounding the proposal to pay the salaries of the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) directly, emphasising that the government must come clear on concerns raised by the Councils.
“Apprehensions are there from district councils and all, and whatever apprehensions are there, the government will have to come clear on this. Whatever apprehensions they have — like they say the government will take over the district councils, these apprehensions should be clarified,” the BJP Spokesperson said.
He added, “If the government really wants to help the district councils, whenever such apprehensions are there, they should come clear on that. Unless these apprehensions are taken up and clarified, probably things will work.”
On Tuesday, prominent civil society organisations from Garo Hills had aired concern over the manner in which the state government was handling the proposed salary bailout plan for GHADC. They had even threatened to step up protest from next week, while calling from clarity from the government.
On the upcoming GHADC elections, Kharkrang said preparations were already under way. “Ground work is being done now. We have completed almost all our mandals and we are almost complete. That is an ongoing process for the BJP and we do not wait for elections to come. One year before the elections we start — our ground work starts immediately after one election ends,” he said.
Asked about the use of religious sentiments during elections, Kharkrang said, “We will overcome that one day, just wait and see.”
He further confirmed that the BJP will contest the GHADC elections. “If it is there, we will contest. Elections will have to be held as the present council tenure will be over,” he said.
