By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Garo community living in Khasi Hills has outrightly rejected the proposal of two MDCs of KHADC to debar Garos from taking part in the Council elections.
Fifteen Nokmas and headman from Challang, Mohesshkhola and other adjoining areas said that the proposal of excluding Garos from the KHADC elections was a clear indication of depriving the Garo population of their fundamental and constitutional rights.
“We have settled in West and Khasi Hills since time immemorial before the birth of Meghalaya and enjoying all the economic and political rights and powers as the citizens of the state but sudden move to deny us of our political right is a clear indication that we are not considered as part of Meghalaya,” they said.
The entire controversy cropped up during the recently concluded session of KHADC when KHNAM MDC Adelbert Nongrum favoured amendment of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Council) Rules, 1951 to debar the Garos residing in the Khasi Hills from participating (contesting as well as voting) in KHADC elections.