SHILLONG: Tura MDC Bernard N. Marak has struck back at the National People’s Party (NPP)-led state government, accusing it of political maneuvering and attempting to hijack credit for the historic mandatory Scheduled Tribe (ST) Bill in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
Speaking to reporters, the BJP leader clarified that while various parties are now claiming victory, the initiative was born from a motion he moved in November 2024, which was initially sidelined due to “petty politics.”
Marak pointed out that while the state government claims non-interference in District Council matters, the GHADC remains politically “maneuvered” by the ruling party in Shillong. He highlighted that his original motion to make ST certificates mandatory for contesting elections was introduced on November 27, but was rejected by the treasury bench simply because he was labeled as “Opposition.”
“The EC passed a notification that was eventually quashed by the Court. This time, when the Bill was finally presented on March 23, it was passed in a day and received the Governor’s assent by March 24. If anyone is taking credit now, the people of Garo and Khasi Hills know the truth—it was the MDCs who passed this, not the state government,” Marak stated.
Marak further slammed the current administration for treating BJP members as an “opposition” bloc within the District Council, a concept he claims does not officially exist in the GHADC framework.
He alleged that for the last five years, elected members outside the ruling fold have been deprived of facilities, a matter he raised with Governor C.H. Vijayashankar. “The Governor has taken a serious note of this. This isn’t just discrimination against an elected member; it is a direct insult to the people who voted for us,” he added.
Despite the Bill’s passage, Marak warned of a critical oversight in the current drafting. He revealed that he has written to the legislative branch regarding Rule 8, Sub-para (a), which currently states that any “Citizen of India” can contest.
The Proposed Amendment: Marak has urged the council to amend the language to specify “Indigenous Scheduled Tribe Citizen of India.”
The “Hasty” Passage: He claimed the ruling party was in such a rush to pass the Bill for political optics that they ignored his suggestion to fix this loophole.
The BJP leader also touched upon the ongoing scrutiny of the electoral rolls under Rule 128, emphasizing that voters must prove they are permanent residents of the District Council. A specialized committee has been formed to review these rolls and address concerns regarding “voter explosion” in plain areas.
“We are waiting for the committee’s report. Once submitted, proper steps will be taken to ensure the sanctity of our indigenous seats,” Marak concluded.
