SHILLONG:
The counsel of Boston Marak, former Garo Hill Autonomous District Council (GHADC) Chief Executive Member, who was removed as president of the Scheduled Tribe Morcha of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after charges of corruption were leveled against him by the Lokayukta, said that the order passed has been kept in abeyance by the high court.
“It is very unfortunate that in this case my client (Boston Marak) never had any allegations against him and even the charge under the Prevention of Corruption Act or any other law has not been framed against him by any court of law,” the counsel for Marak, S Deb, said.
He said that despite this the president of the Meghalaya unit of BJP, Ernest Mawrie, removed his client from the post of president of the Scheduled Tribe Morcha as well as relieving him from all responsibilities in the party.
Deb said that it was shocking that there were other members of the BJP in the state who have also been implicated in various criminal proceedings and are facing charges, which are serious in nature.
“But till now no action has been taken against them and they have never been removed from any post,” the counsel told reporters, “but unfortunately and surprisingly Marak who always worked effortlessly for the party has been removed without any show cause notice or without any reason given by the state BJP president.”
He said that it will not be out of place to say that the state BJP as per its constitution must have the provision for issuing such an order.
It may be mentioned that on Monday, the Meghalaya High Court had kept in abeyance the order of May 18, 2023, passed by the Meghalaya Lokayukta.
The Lokayukta had filed a charge sheet naming Marak, former GHADC secretary Hewingson Sangma, 10 MDCs as well as a few contractors after it found them to be involved in a case of corruption involving public funds.
On Monday, the state BJP unit relieved Marak from all responsibilities as well as the president of the Scheduled Tribe Morcha on charges of corruption.
The BJP stated that the party practises zero tolerance against corruption.
Mawrie also stated that the matter against the former CEM will be forwarded to the disciplinary committee for suggestions on actions to be taken against Marak.