By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 13: State BJP vice-president and Tura MDC Bernard N. Marak on Tuesday reacted sharply to the National People’s Party’s (NPP) assertion that non-tribals cannot be barred from voting in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections unless the electoral rolls are formally revised, alleging that such positions reflect a long-standing dilution of tribal safeguards.
Marak said his remarks were in direct response to the NPP’s clarification and argued that the Sixth Schedule was enacted to protect the political and cultural rights of indigenous tribal communities, which, according to him, have been steadily weakened over the years. He alleged that successive political leaders have allowed the system to drift away from its original intent, enabling non-tribals to contest elections and influence outcomes, particularly in plain areas.
Referring specifically to the GHADC, Marak said there is no provision for plain area constituencies in Garo Hills and that the district council was constituted exclusively for tribal areas. He maintained that despite this constitutional position, changes in electoral practices have eroded tribal political rights and diluted the spirit of the Sixth Schedule.
The BJP leader further alleged that past executive committees of the district council failed to initiate corrective measures, allowing a continuous dilution of constitutional provisions over the last five decades. He also claimed that electoral rolls were never properly scrutinised, alleging lapses in verifying bona fide voters, checking illegal migration and safeguarding tribal interests during ADC elections.
Earlier, the ruling NPP stated that non-tribals cannot be prevented from voting in GHADC elections unless the electoral rolls are formally revised. Clarifying the party’s stand, Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira said that Autonomous District Councils are meant primarily for the development of tribal communities and for the protection of their culture, traditions, and heritage. However, he said the existing electoral framework does not legally allow the government to selectively bar non-tribals from voting without a formal revision of the electoral rolls.
Marak, however, maintained that the issue goes beyond procedural limitations and reflects a deeper failure to uphold the constitutional intent behind the Sixth Schedule and the ADC system.
