From Our Correspondent
TURA: The banned GNLA has rejected an ANVC-B proposal to the government to have a Territorial Council with strengthening of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, and maintains that it would continue to pursue its goal for a Garoland state.
The outfit’s publicity secretary Pantera Singgasik revealed to the media that the top leaders of the GNLA had recently held a three-day conference at its headquarters A’sim to discuss several issues pertaining to its demand for a separate state and the State Government’s recent deployment of more central forces in Garo Hills to take on the outfit.
“The ANVC-B has mooted for a Territorial Council. We wish them the best. As far as GNLA is concerned we will seek nothing short of a separate state for the Garos,” said the GNLA publicity secretary.
He added that the meeting was attended by GNLA army chief Sohan D Shira (Wegara), outfit co-chairman Hohoe Gatamra, general secretary Susonge Jakrimra, and others of the central decision making body of the banned group.
The GNLA revealed that the outfit would pursue the statehood demand and stress for the same under the States Reorganization Act of 1956.
The deployment of more central forces to tackle the militant outfit has been taken by the GNLA as an indication that the government is unwilling to hold discussions over its statehood demand.
“If the Meghalaya Government continues to use force to suppress our demands we will be compelled to take similar steps against the government,” cautioned the GNLA publicity secretary.
The outfit has also decided to create more awareness on the Garoland issue by spreading its word and significance to the far flung areas of the region.
“It is seen that awareness on the statehood issue has not reached each and every citizen of Garo Hills. More efforts will be made with a united voice from all communities to achieve the goal,” proclaimed the GNLA.
