By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, APR 20: The disbanded Achik National Volunteer Council – Breakaway (ANVC.B) today threatened to “publicly burn” the Agreed Text Settlement if the state government fails to honour and implement the agreement within September 24.
“Burning away the Agreement is what we have in our mind now,” ANVC.B former chairman Bernard Rimpu N Marak said in a statement issued here on Thursday.
“We waited for so long and will continue to do so till September 24. After that if there is no development the Agreement will be burnt publicly as the government failed our expectations and disappointed the anticipation of our people,” he said.
Alleging the government of intentionally derailing the implementation of the agreement, he said, “The delay in providing us our packages is an attempt to demoralize us and create division among our cadres beside the government continue to slap cases against us and made our life miserable.”
He further termed the agreement with the government as a total failure due to lack of political will and said that the Agreed Text is in a stand still ever since it was signed with very little development as government did not take any interest in the implementation of the Agreed Text.
“They have made us suffer and go through difficulties while they enjoy the benefits of the Agreed Text by erecting foundation stones for all projects that was the out come of the Agreement,” he said.
The Medical College, the Child and Maternity Hospital, the bridge over Brahmaputra etc are few projects included in the Agreement.
Despite of the development that are flowing to the State and to the GHADC are an outcome of the Agreed Text, he said, “But we are not made part of any event.”
Also stating that the rehabilitation of cadres is a total joke to them now, Marak accused the government for making a real mockery of the Agreed Text. “Fearing queries they did not even held meetings with us to review the progress of the Agreement. Its going to be three years now and the implementation of the Agreed Text is a failure to us and our people,” he added.
He further alleged the State for intentionally attempted to form a State level committee without the ANVC.B members which was rejected by the outfit in a meeting held in Delhi last year.
“After that there was no meeting and our letters were never heeded by the Government. We gave up hope and yes, we are desperate as the Government has taken all credit and benefit,” he said adding “In spite of being reminded many times the Centre failed to have a review meeting which on a contrary gave way to the State to manipulate the Agreement turning it into a total failure.”
He claimed that the list of 139 (ANVC.B) cadres which the State claimed eligible for availing the package is unknown to ANVC.B leaders as official communication of the selected cadres were never sent by the government.
“How can we accept blindly when the State refuse to be transparent. We fear some of our senior members may not be included and there is a possibility of division in the rank and order of our organization,” he said while informing that they have resolved to wait till their proposed list is accepted (which consist of a total of 210 cadres).
Meanwhile, the ANVC.B former leader also accused the Congress led state government for attempting to disgrace the Agreed Text as it was initiated by the BJP led Government in the Centre.
He said the government intentionally violates the tribal rights by intruding into the tribal land and administration which the Agreement aimed to protect and strengthen adding that the land violation continues in the Aking lands of Garo Hills, down playing the role of the Nokmas and the traditional administration system in Garo Hills.
He said that recently, government tried to snatch the lands within the Aking land for expansion of the Medical facility in Tura (Rongka Chiring) without acquisition.
Similar incident happened at Megong Boldak, Chiringgitim, Nikwatgre area, Ringri chiring etc to name a few, he said while pointing out that in Slanggre (Tura), 29 houses were mowed down for construction of road sanctioned by DONER without acquisition, compensation etc.
He further added that the tovernment illegally made patta over Aking land in Konchigre (Tura) and similar survey is going on in Sepoy Colony (Tura) as he alleged that even the GHADC is under government control politically and bureaucratically (like now).
“None of these lands are officially acquired and the rights of the tribals are continued to be violated disgracefily,” he said while claiming that the RTIs revealed that the land occupied by DC and the Police department are without proper documents.
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