Jolt to UDP as its Garo hills jt secy resigns

SHILLONG, NOV 12: In a setback to the United Democratic Party (UDP), its joint secretary Rocky R Marak in charge of Garo hills region today quit from the party alleging that the UDP has failed to play an effective role as opposition on major issues.

Marak submitted his resignation to the UDP president Donkupar Roy on Wednesday.

“I decided to resign on ground that there are much bigger issues to be raise which the party was not seen doing so. It has failed to perform the role of the opposition,” Marak told reporters at a news conference.

Marak was of the opinion that for many years now the UDP with wrong political decisions has not been able to capture and win the confidence of the people of the state as the  very poor performance in the last assembly elections especially in Garo hill stand testimony.

The decision of the UDP not to set up an MP candidate in the recent 2014 Lok Sabha elections has been a serious setback and has further demoralized the party members, Marak said adding the party instead supported the NPP which has a different ideology altogether.

According to Marak, the party workers are are not sure if the UDP will contest the forthcoming elections of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).

Stating the situation in Garo hills is so bad, Marak said the UDP and other regional parties cannot meet the expectation of the people of the state as they have not taken up many burning issues concerning the people.  He said such issues include the insecurity, kidnapping, insurgency affecting overall development, continuing NGT ban that led to increase in criminal activities in Garo hills region.

Marak also questioned the UDP demand of social welfare minister Deborah Marak for her alleged nexus with militant as he said the party has failed to raise its voice on other ministers and politicians who are involved in bigger scams.

Marak said,“They have raised protest against Deborah, but why not raised their voice against others also.”

Another reason cited by Marak for this resignation is the failure of the UDP and other opposition political parties to visit the flood hit areas in Garo hills.

Marak said the lackluster approach of the UDP, HSPDP, NPP and others on the various scams, and their absence and inability to visit the flood hit areas and help the people during the recent floods has demoralized all the regional minded supporters of the region.- By Our Reporter