From Our Correspondent
TURA: Encouraged by the Centre’s endorsement for Telangana state on July 30, the demand for Garoland reverberated in the Garo Hills on Tuesday.
The Garo Hills State Movement Committee on Tuesday launched its first round of agitation with a two-day sit-in dharna outside the Deputy Commissioner’s Offices in all five districts of Garo Hills.
Volunteers representing various student and social organisations, citizens and students of different schools of the region took part in the sit-in demonstration carrying placards calling for the creation of Garoland.
The GHSMC is a conglomerate of various organisations whose members include those from the Garo National Council, the All India Garo Union (AIGU), A’chik Youth Welfare Organization (AYWO) and All A’chik Youth Federation (AAYF) among others. The first day of the sit-in protest witnessed participation of school students from Mothers’ Union School, Sister Nivedita High School, Government Boys Higher Secondary School and Tura Government College. Mothers from Tura and its adjoining areas were also among those who participated in the picketing.
“Our agitation to mount pressure on the government has kicked off today. We will continue with our struggle for Garoland till we achieve it,” GHSMC general secretary Augustine Marak said.
He said the government should consider creation of Garoland based on linguistic lines of the States Reorganisation Act, 1965.
The GHSMC has also announced a 12-hour bandh in all the five districts of Garo Hills on August 8.
“We will launch a series of agitations after the Independence day celebration to strengthen our movement for a separate state,” Marak said. (With inputs from UNI)