SHILLONG:
Social activist Tennydard M Marak on Tuesday filed an FIR against cabinet minister and Williamnagar legislator Marcuise N Marak for alleged corrupt practices and violation of the Model Code of Conduct in the recently held 2023 Assembly elections.
The report was filed at the Williamnagar police station in the East Garo Hills district.
Tennydard had also filed a complaint petition before the Chief Election Commissioner of India on March 23, with copies to the Prime Minister of India, Home Minister as well as Chairman of the North East Democratic Alliance, requesting their intervention into the matter and take necessary steps to declare the election of Marcuise N Marak to be void for adopting corrupt practices and holding a fresh election in Williamnagar constituency.
In the report, Tennydard alleged that Marcuise circulated a fabricated report card for 2018–2022, on his activities during the last five years.
“What is shocking to note that Marcuise N Marak had circulated the report card (which was) printed and published by Jesubell Ch Marak[block secretary, National People’s Party] on February 3, whereas the Model Code of Conduct imposed by the Election Commission was in operation in the state with effect from January 18,” he said, noting that this activity was tantamount to improper conduct. “His election deserves to be declared as illegal and fresh election be held,” the activist demanded.
He further alleged that the report card contained false and fabricated reports of his achievement during his 2018–2022 tenure, and contained no manifesto or agenda of works, which Tennydard believes amounts to misguiding the public through misrepresentation.
The activist has claimed that Marcuise’s report card contains false achievements. For instance, Tennydard claims the report card allegedly mentions the beautification of Williamnagar Girls Secondary School, but this work “is nothing but a blatant falsehood and fabricated claim […] the school has boundary wall with rotten rested C.I. Sheets and, most importantly, the girls’ school has no gate.”
Tennydard further added that the report card claims under “Sl. No. 7 (a) PMGSY: Road from Nengmandalgre ONI Mandalgre (35 KM) costing Rs 80 crores” as his contribution to the infrastructure when it was a project under Prime Ministers Gram Sadak Yajna.
The activist says he has waited for more than 10 days to hear of any acknowledgment of his complaint but has received no news.
“Under compelling circumstances, I am filing this FIR with enough prima facie evidence so that the police can verify the truth and initiate appropriate steps after due investigation and book him under the proper section of the law and leave an example of rule of law that “nobody is above the law” before the society at large – which is the need of the present hour,” he said.