HT Correspondent
HAFLONG, Oct 26: Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader and former chief executive member (CEM) of North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) Debojit Thaosen on Saturday refuted the charges levelled by present CEM Debolal Gorlosa that the Congress had taken initiatives for introduction of panchayati raj system in Dima Hasao by constituting gaon panachayat in place of traditional village council.
“The government is going to introduce panchayati raj system following the memorandum of settlement (MoS) signed with Dilip Nunisa-led Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) on October 8, 2012. It was not the plan of previous Congress government,” Thaosen, who led the Congress-led NCHAC from 2009 to 2014, said addressing a press conference here on Thursday.
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“Therefore Gorlosa’s statement is a blatant lie. I do not understand why he is dragging me into the controversy”, Thaosen said.
In a Facebook post on October 22, Gorlosa accused former CEM Thaosen for bringing panchayati raj system in Dima Hasao district.
Gorlosa in his Facebook said, “The rumours and lies that are being spread by the opposition in regards to the implementation of panchayati raj system in the Dima Hasao district and upgradation of Haflong Town Committee to Municipal Board. They are now holding rallies and staging dharnas to create confusion among the people that the BJP-led government will implement panchayati system in the hill district and are also in process to scrap the Sixth Schedule to the constitution of India.”
“These are all lies and political stunt of the Opposition. The very fact is that in 2013 during the tenure of former CEM Debojit Thaosen, the executive committee (EC) had passed a resolution for proposal of village council in the district to the Governor. The question is, whose government was ruling at that time”, Gorlosa asked.
“Our government is trying its best to rectify the mistake of previous Congress government and our executive committee is having discussion to resolve these issues at earliest and we will let you know in papers after October 31. Our government is with the people of Dima Hasao and strongly against the Implementation of the panchayati raj system as the act is absolutely against the interest of the people of our district. I have also discussed the issues with the chief minister and clarified the matter with the leading NGOs of the district”, Gorlosa said his his post.
“So please don’t believe in the rumours that are not in the interest of the district and I hope the cooperation of every one will lead to the bright future of the district,” he added in the post.
Reacting to Gorlosa’s statement, Thaosen said, “The question of proposal of any village council by the executive committee when I was the CEM is totally irrelevant in this matter.”
“Whether there is any bill or resolution regarding any village council or panchayati raj system has ever been passed by the Governor ever since the inception of NCHAC, including my tenure as CEM,” he asked.
“The answer is no or else there would have been an amendment in the sixth schedule in this regards. So the question of blaming Debojeet Thaosen led council or anyone for implementation of village council or panchayati raj system is a desperate but futile attempt to pass on the buck to someone else and a very cheap and dirty political gimmick of the lowest level”, he added.
