From Our Correspondent
TURA: The proscribed Garo militant outfit GNLA has announced that it is willing to end its armed struggle if New Delhi is ready to accept its demand for creation of a separate state for the Garos carved out of present Meghalaya.
The GNLA announced that the organisation will stop all militant activities and even hand over their weapons if the Union Government fulfills the demand of the Garos, which is for a separate state carved out from the present three districts of Garo Hills.
The ‘political secretary’ of the GNLA, Bikdot Nikjang Marak, called up media houses from an undisclosed location in Bangladesh to inform of his outfit’s decision to go the extra mile provided the same is reciprocated by the Central government in New Delhi.
“We will end all armed struggle if Delhi listens to our peoples’ demand for a separate Garoland state under Article 3 of the Indian Constitution. We do not want a separate country but wish to remain within India,” said Bikdot.
He said that Garos continue to live under the shadow of the Khasis who rule Shillong and there is a long standing demand by people of this part of the state for a separate identity.
“When Nagaland could be created for the Nagas in 1963, Mizoram for the Mizos and Arunachal for the Arunachalees in 1987, then why can’t the Garos be given their right?” he questioned.
The militant group also issued its greetings ahead of the upcoming Independence Day celebrations on August 15 indicating it is ready to offer the olive branch.
“Let this celebrations be a successful and peaceful one,” stated the GNLA leader while recalling the contributions of past freedom fighters of India beginning from Gandhiji, Nehru, Subash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh to BR Ambedkar.