Meghalaya BJP Vice President Bernard Marak Accuses Conrad Govt of Grabbing Tribal Land Illegally

Meghalaya BJP Vice President and Tura MDC, Bernard Marak, has accused Conrad Sangma government of illegally grabbing tribal land in Tura without following proper acquisition norms.

accused the Conrad Sangma-led government of attempting to seize land in Tura without proper acquisition, violating tribal land rights.
He further claimed that the government is specifically targeting areas that supported the BJP in the last election, targeting people who voted for the BJP in the last election. The Tura MDC further added that if the alleged attempts to grab tribal land illegally are not halted, he might be compelled to challenge both Rakkam and Conrad Sangma to a public debate.
The allegations have stirred a political storm in the state, with Marak insisting that the government’s actions violate the rights of the people and threaten the sanctity of tribal land ownership.

In a letter to GAD Minister Rakkam A Sangma, Marak wrote, “The State Government under the Chief Ministership of Shri Conrad Sangma seems to be in a desperate attempt to grab land from Tura in complete violation of the rights of the people and not acknowledging the fact that this is a Hill area under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.”

Accusing the NPP led State Government of continuing to target the “poor population”, Marak said in the letter, “State Government is not Tribal and it cannot grab tribal lands without proper acquisition. The rights of the Hill people have been grossly violated in the past by grabbing land from the akhing area without Nokma’s consent and proper acquisition. As you may be aware that in Tura, which happens to be the Chief Minister’s constituency, the residents in many localities have faced difficulties from availing Centre Schemes because the State Government claimed it to be a GAD land.”

Marak listed out the lands which were allegedly grabbed illegally by the Government, which according to Marak in the letter are from Nikwatgre to Walbakgre – 1046 bighas, ITI campus area measuring approximately 91 bighas, De-reserved area more than 150 bighas, Sepoy Colony, “Government attempting to grab the land of the Lepers which measured approximately 390 bighas”.

Furthermore, Marak wrote, “Sir, kindly know the fact why all Administrative Districts had “Hills” after their name, it is to remind that State Government is functioning in the Hill People’s lands. So, the State has no right to grab a land officially belonging to the Nokmas. For that, even the Gazettes of 1975 and 1977 clearly stated that “Government elect to resume under the term of the lease instead of acquiring under the Act”. So, the State Government, even in the past did not acquire but used as required and that is eminent in the receipts which said requisition, not acquisition.”
The BJP leader requested Rakkam Sangma as the GAD Minister, to stop all process of “illegally claiming the Akhing Lands as GAD land as it grossly violates the provisions of the Sixth Schedule and The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.”
Marak urged the government not to violate the Constitution of India and the Acts set in place to protect the Hill Tribals, failing which, Marak said, “I as the Member of District Council (MDC) of Tura might be compelled to challenge you and the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to a public debate.”

Also read: Meghalaya’s C&RD Blocks Meant for Rural Development Non-Functional Nearly Two Years After Inauguration

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