Shillong, Jul 26: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has condemned the recent social media statement by Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor of USTM, in which he pledged to rehabilitate individuals displaced in the eviction drives of the Assam government.
State BJP vice-president and Member of District Council (MDC) from Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Bernard Marak in a letter to Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma said, “If allowed (it) might affect the topography of our tribal state in the long run.”
Marak said that Meghalaya, being a tribal-majority state, must remain vigilant against any narrative that seeks to normalize or legitimize settlement of non-tribal populations in Sixth Schedule areas.
The BJP vice-president pointed out that historically, similar encroachments were institutionalized during the Congress regime in Garo Hills through the introduction of periodic lease pattas post the partition of Bangladesh.
“Sixth Schedule land in plain areas was replaced with Plain Mauzas, and illegal migrants were granted lease land documents (Pattas) which now dominate the land records in Autonomous District Councils (ADCs),” he added.
Marak also alleged that even land issued by traditional Nokmas has been converted to such lease pattas — an injustice that you yourself have apparently experienced.
The BJP state vice-president and GHADC member also alleged that alarmingly, political figures, including the MP from Garo Hills Saleng Sangma, can be seen supporting the illegal settlers in public forums.
Marak said that the remarks of Hoque and Sangma are being widely circulated among non-tribal populations in Garo Hills’ plain belts, further heightening communal tensions.
He also alleged that even MDCs under the district council are facilitating large-scale non-tribal trading activities without verification and proper Trading by Non-Tribals (TNT) authorization.
“This is happening at a time when GHADC employees have not been paid for over 43 months, exacerbating public mistrust,” Marak said.
The GHADC MDC also alleged that the current Executive Committee has also appointed non-tribals as members of Village Courts and Councils in the plain areas which grossly violates the very purpose of the Sixth Schedule.
According to him such actions dilute the tribal identity and violate both constitutional safeguards and customary rights guaranteed under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
Meanwhile, Marak has urged the Chief Minister to intervene in the eviction crisis and ensure tribal communities in border areas are protected from illegal encroachers.
He also urged the Meghalaya government to issue an official condemnation of statements that threaten the tribal character of the state building confidence among the indigenous masses.
The BJP vice-president also urged the government to order a review of pattas issued in plain areas post-partition, restoring Nokma – granted rights as Authority of Land.
“Investigate and hold accountable, elected representatives facilitating unlawful entries and transactions and halt unconstitutional appointments of non-tribals in traditional institutions and local bodies in ADCs,” Marak added.
