By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 22: State BJP vice president and Tura MDC Bernard N Marak has demanded that the appointment of the Principal Secretary to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) be rescinded, terming it unconstitutional and in violation of the decisions taken during the Review Committee meeting of the Tripartite Agreement held last month.
Marak stated that the appointment of the Principal Secretary to the GHADC, while other Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in the state remain under different administrative arrangements, contradicts the understanding reached in the Review Committee meeting. He said that the order was opposed during the meeting and must therefore be withdrawn by the District Council Affairs department.
According to him, the Review Committee meeting, held on September 26, 2025, in Shillong and chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, ended on a positive note with constructive discussions and assurances. Various grievances and issues were raised during the meeting, including those related to the rehabilitation of cadres, developmental concerns, GHADC matters, and the functioning of sub-committees and monitoring committees for ADC funds.
Marak alleged that despite several reminders, the proceedings and presentation from the meeting have not been shared with them. He said this delay had created confusion, allowing self-interested individuals to blame the Agreed Text for the government’s missteps and to justify the appointment of the Principal Secretary.
He further claimed that fake appointment letters of IAS and MCS officers had been circulated on social media, misleading the public. “We feared such misinterpretation and politically motivated misinformation, and proper action should be taken against those responsible,” he said.
Marak added that the appointment of the Principal Secretary goes against the decisions made during the Review Committee meeting and reflects a biased attitude towards the Garo people. He said the BJP would formally request the revocation of the order and an immediate review meeting to revisit the previous decisions.
He also pointed out that the appointment of a nodal officer, as agreed in the meeting, is still pending — leaving the signatories of the Tripartite Agreement in uncertainty. Marak urged the concerned authorities to take sincere and corrective steps at the earliest.
