In the latest development on the war memorial controversy in Meghalaya, the State BJP has come down hard on the government for alleged land grabbing and violation of the Sixth Schedule. The party’s vice president and Tura MDC, Bernard N Marak, has slammed the government for ignoring the concerns of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) and the local residents.
Marak has pointed out that the war memorial, which was recently demolished, is situated on tribal land and accused the government of bulldozing ahead with redevelopment work without the consent of tribal leaders or elected GHADC representatives. This, he claimed, is a blatant violation of the Sixth Schedule and an encroachment on tribal land. “No matter what committee or decision they arrive at, they still have to address the land issue because the land does not belong to the government, and they cannot just take it away,” Marak emphasized.
Responding to the government’s decision to form a committee to review the redevelopment plan, Marak expressed skepticism, stating that the issue of land grabbing remains unchanged. “The work has been halted, and they are forming a committee, but we don’t know who will be included. The issue we raised is land grabbing because the land does not belong to them. That concern still stands,” he said.
Marak also highlighted that the GHADC is in the process of issuing notices to various departments regarding the matter, warning that departments failing to comply with the notices would face legal action. The BJP’s stance is not surprising, given the party’s long-standing criticism of the Meghalaya government’s handling of the tribal land issue.
The controversy surrounding the war memorial has sparked widespread public outrage, with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma moving to defuse the situation by suspending the redevelopment work and announcing the formation of a new committee under his direct supervision. However, Marak’s assertion that the government’s actions amount to land grabbing has raised questions about the extent to which the government is willing to compromise with the tribal communities.
The impasse highlights the need for better communication and cooperation between the government and the tribal bodies, as well as the importance of transparency in decision-making processes. As the controversy continues to unfold, the State BJP’s stance serves as a reminder of the need for the government to prioritize the concerns of the tribals and protect their rights and interests.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/03/30/bjp-calls-out-govt-for-tribal-land-grabbing/
Category : MEGHALAYA
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-03-30 02:24:00
