BJP MDC, Bernard N Marak today said that the State government cannot interfere into the affairs of the district councils.
Mark said that the government and the council of ministers are barred by a court through an order in 2002, which was passed by the Gauhati High Court AIR 64(69) on Sixth Schedule and role of the state government and council of ministers.
“The whole of the Sixth Schedule nowhere provides for any role to be played by the State government. Duty has been cast upon the Governor to deal with the affairs of the Autonomous District Council independent of the control of the State Government. The Council of Ministers of a State has not been assigned any supervisory role as it would mean disappearance of the Autonomous Status of the Tribal areas,” Marak said quoting the order.
He said it was unfortunate that the State government thinks they can interfere in the GHADC. “People do not believe the lies told to them. Garos cannot be fooled nor threatened when it comes to tribal rights,” he added.
Marak also alleged that the ministers through their MDCs in Garo Hills manipulated and changed the Hill provisions of the Sixth Schedule into non Hill provisions which diluted everything that the forefathers fought and died for.
“The political leaders diluted the autonomous powers of GHADC by interfering into the ADCs. The state took over most of the departments even to the extent of introducing municipality in tribal lands after changing the Hill provisions which violates the Article 243 ZC of the Indian Constitution. It also manipulated funds meant for the development of the tribal constituencies,” he added.
He also alleged that the state had taken away funds meant for rural development and misappropriated funds meant for tribal upliftment which is evident in implementation of Rs 100.73 crore of which 40 per cent benefited the political party which led the Executive Committee in GHADC.
Marak said the new CEM, Rakesh Sangma should face the agitating NGOs. “Clear the doubts of the people and face them else resign. All should unite and refrain from deteriorating the situation in Garo Hills,” he said.
