By Our Reporter
SHILLONG:The KSU has demanded the State Government to review its decision on the issuing of Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate to Marngar community who are residing mainly in Raid Marngar, Ri-Bhoi district.
“We totally oppose this decision of the Government on issuing of ST certificate to the Marngar community. We fail to understand how the Government can issue such certificate to a community which does not belong to the State,” KSU general secretary Hamlet Dohling told reporters on Monday.
He said that Marngar community belongs to Bhong tribe from Assam adding that their language and culture are totally different from the local indigenous population of the State.
“Recognising the Marngar community as t ST from the State is totally against the interest of the local indigenous tribals,” Dohling said.
If this decision to issue the ST certificate was to serve the political interest of some politicians, he said that the KSU would not tolerate this at any cost.
“We are going to submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma in this connection on Tuesday,” Dohling informed.
Earlier on Friday last, scheduled tribe certificates were issued by Ri-Bhoi district Deputy Commissioner Office to the Marngar community in a function which was attended by former Chief Minister DD Lapang.
Lapang distributed the ST certificates to the Marngar community on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, former Chief Minister lauded the Government’s decision to recognise the Marngar tribe as the tribal community of the State.
Lapang said that this recognition of the Marngar tribe was made after being duly approved by the Political, Law and Social Welfare Department.
This decision was also based on the report received from the Hima Mylliem and from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi District, the former Chief Minister added.