SHILLONG:
BJP MDC from Tura Bernard M Marak on Wednesday said the Uniform Civil Code should not worry the tribal communities of the Northeastern states as it is meant for the general areas not the tribal areas.
In a statement, Marak said that the North East has special provisions in the Constitution which was never taught to the tribals in schools and colleges thus most of the leaders remain blind to the realities.
He said the UCC is meant for the general areas, tribal areas will not be affected. General means those areas which are governed by the general laws so UCC will not affect the tribal areas which are protected under special provisions of the Constitution.
Claiming that the BJP wants to uplift NE regions as it has been long neglected, the MDC said that BJP’s intention is not to intrude into the tribal areas or to dilute the beautiful culture, tradition and practices of the tribals.
“BJP wants to restore what has been lost and taken away from the tribals in the past by the political parties which ruled the state,” he said.
He said that the Schedule is a reservation promised to the people through the Constitution of India which practically was not delivered to the tribal people instead the Autonomy of the tribal people was diluted by the bureaucracy who serves the general state under the political leaders.
“State is not tribal. It is general. Tribal have been betrayed by most of the political leaders who ruled the State in the past and now there followers create fear psychosis against the noble steps BJP is taking under noble leadership of Narendra Modi.
Today, tribals have to pay tax and indirect taxes imposed on the tribals are through bills we have to pay to the state at a high rate. Promising development and modernisation, most of the leaders weakened the Tribal Autonomy and replaced it with general administration,” he said.
He also asked who introduced Municipality in the Sixth Scheduled areas? Why are Scheduled Tribes forced to use Scheduled Caste certificates issued by the Deputy Commissioners instead of Scheduled Tribe certificate which was to be issued by District Councils? Why was Rural Development schemes taken over from ADCs by the DRDAs which are mere agencies?
“Tribals have been betrayed and made secondary citizens while the bureaucracy has taken over everything through political mechanism of the state. UCC will not affect the tribals but the society is already affected and to rectify it BJP stands as the only hope to bring balance and positive change,” he added.
Further, the BJP leader said the education in the state was not tribal based instead we were taught to accept the general provisions which the former leaders have introduced to erase our beautiful history and to confuse us of our rights.
The primary education which was supposed to be under the Autonomous District Councils was taken over by the general state and the whole syllabus was changed to general education distancing us from our traditional roots and understanding our rights.
“Today, many leaders feel Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) should be abolished and the State should be given all liberty but little do we know that without ADCs we are defenceless against the general laws. No matter how strong the State is, it is general (non tribal) that’s why we call General State and MLA elections as General Elections,” he said while adding that the BJP wants to restore the autonomy given to the tribals unlike other political parties who diluted it in the past.