The new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MDC for Tura, Bernard Marak, today demanded that the executive committee of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) to stop targeting council employees for their stand against the non-payment of their salaries for the past 34 months.
He claimed that the majority of the protesting GHADC staff had voted for the BJP and were thus being persecuted.
In a letter to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today, Marak said that he was disappointed to hear the discussion of the EC target the employees through the district administration and legal advisors of Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP). This apparently took place during a meeting here yesterday.
“Majority of the GHADC employees voted for the BJP as they reside in Tura. The targeting of the employees because they voted for the BJP is unfair as is the imposition of a dictatorial order. Since their demand is genuine, kindly adopt a holistic approach towards their grievances instead of targeting them,” said Marak.
He added that he did not want law and order problems during the time of lockdown and asked that nothing be done without him as the Tura MDC.
“If anything happens in my constituency, you and the administration will be solely responsible,” he asserted.
Bernard pointed to rumours of him being against the GHADC secretary which he said was the handiwork of some of the MDCs that met with her. He even added that he tried talking to the Chief Executive Member on the issue but did not receive a response.
“The conspiracy targeting me for winning the Tura seat and my voters should immediately stop and talks should be initiated where I am ready to assist. If force is used in spite of my appeal, I and the entire BJP team will join the protest with the employees,” he added.
