SHILLONG, NOV 25: GNC legislator Clifford R Marak on Tuesday accused the state government of cheating the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) as he said there is lacunae in the Agreed Text of Settlement signed on September 24 in New Delhi.
Moving a call attention motion during the ongoing winter session of the assembly Marak said, “Government has cheated the ANVC as the peace pact was signed only by officials of both centre and state government and not by the union home minister and home minister of Meghalaya. According to Marak unless the ministers’ ‘sign’ how can it be called peace settlement signed by the governments – centre and state.
Marak contention is “Ministers are government but not officers.” He also said that there is also no mention about number of seats to be increase in the GHADC and the other two district councils of Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
Stating that the issue requires amendment in parliament, Marak said “Now, the government of India is silent on this, I don’t know what government of Meghalaya is going to do,” and added “From where will the state government get the money unless there is agreement to increase the number of seats.”
Replying to the call attention, chief minister Mukul Sangma said such allegation is dangerous and felt it is not appropriate to send wrong message to the people of the state as this will definitely create confusion. The chief minister accused Marak of trying to misinform the people.
Giving clarity on the issue the chief minister said in such cases the government is represented by officials (at the level of secretaries) of department and ministry in many agreements. “Any attempt to create confusion will defeat the purpose of finding settlement of peace in a sustainable basis,” he said.
In respect to the increase the number of seats in GHADC, the chief minister said there will be a need for amendment of the Sixth Schedule. He also informed that the government has decided to go ahead with holding the elections of the GHADC without increasing the number of seats as this can only be done after necessary amendment is made.- By Our Reporter
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