From Our Correspondent
TURA: The Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo people (FKJGP) has announced a two-hour closure of all shops and business establishments in the entire Garo Hills from 10 AM to 12 noon of Tuesday in protest against the appointment of AT Mondal as the Meghalaya Assembly Speaker.
The Federation has strongly opposed the appointment of Mondal, who is the first non-tribal legislator to occupy the coveted post, in a tribal majority state like Meghalaya and has criticized the ruling Congress for allowing such a precedent to take place.
The Federation has condemned the appointment of Mondal and has called for him to step down from the Speaker’s post.
“Meghalaya is a tribal majority state and there are 58 elected tribal legislators in the House of sixty. Why was a minority allowed to occupy the Speaker’s post? We would have welcomed any Garo, Khasi or Jaintia legislator taking up the post but surely not a non-tribal,” said FKJGP general secretary Raksrang A Sangma.
The Federation has stated that the appointment of a non-tribal has hurt the sentiments of the tribal population in the State.
The two-hour shutdown will only focus on shops and business houses and there would be no restriction on movement of vehicles and people. Offices and educational institutions would be allowed to function and examinations will be allowed to proceed without any disturbances, informed the FKJGP.
