Meghalaya BJP condemns USTM Chancellor plans to rehabilitate evicted people from Assam

Meghalaya BJP Vice President Bernard N. Marak has claimed that University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) Chancellor, Mahbubul Hoque has “pledged to rehabilitate” evicted people from Assam.
USTM is situated at Baridua, 9th mile in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district. It is about 85 kms from Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya and 6 Km from Assam’s capital Dispur.
In a letter to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Marak, who is also the member of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), said, such a move by the USTM Chancellor would affect the demography of Meghalaya.
Marak also submitted the letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Expressing deep concern regarding the ongoing eviction of “encroachers” by the Assam government, Marak said, “This action directly affects large tribal populations residing in Meghalaya’s border districts – namely Ri Bhoi, North Garo Hills, and West Garo Hills – causing widespread fear and insecurity.”
“I strongly condemn the recent social media statement by the Chancellor of USTM, in which he pledged to rehabilitate individuals displaced
by these evictions which if allowed might affect the topography of our tribal state in a long run,” Marak stated.
“Meghalaya, being a tribal-majority State, must remain vigilant against any narrative that seeks to normalise or legitimise settlement of non-tribal populations in Sixth Schedule area,” the BJP leader said.
He also urged the Meghalaya Chief Minister to intervene in the eviction crisis and ensure tribal communities in border areas are protected from illegal encroachers.
Taking potshots at the Congress, the BJP leader said, “Historically, similar encroachments were institutionalised during the Congress regime in Garo Hills through the introduction of periodic lease pattas post the partition of Bangladesh.”
“Sixth Schedule land in plain areas was replaced with Plain Mauzas, and illegal migrants were granted lease land documents (Pattas) which now dominate the land records in Autoomous District Councils (ADCs),” Marak said, referring to land in the plain belt areas of Meghalaya.
“Even land issued by traditional Nokmas ( Garo chief) has been converted to such lease pattas. Alarmingly, political figures, including the Lok Sabha MP from Garo Hills Saleng Sangma, can be seen supporting the illegal settlers in public forums,” the BJP leader alleged.
Commending Chief Minister Sangma for his initiative to check the entry of illegal migrants, Marak, however, claimed that even MDCs are “facilitating large-scale non-tribal trading activities” without verification and non-tribals have been appointed as members of village courts and councils in the plain belt areas of Garo Hills.
The BJP leader urged Chief Minister Sangma to order a review of pattas issued in plain areas post-partition, restoring Nokma – granted rights as Authority of Land. in the eviction crisis and ensure tribal communities in border areas are protected from illegal encroachers.