Election for new TGCSU body kept in abeyance
TURA: The State Government has directed the Tura Government College authorities to dissolve the current body of the Tura Government College Students’ Union (TGCSU) and keep in abeyance any fresh election until further orders from the Education department.
This is probably the first instance of an elected student body being dissolved for a breakdown of the law and order in the Garo Hills.
The move comes in the wake of the recent unrest in Garo Hills and the attack on the Tura DC’s office complex triggered by the Garo Hills State Movement Committee (GHSMC) activists whose members are alleged to belong to the TGCSU and have held a series of agitations demanding Garoland state.
The Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, Pravin Bakshi, who also happens to be the head of the college advisory body have written to the principal in-charge of the oldest higher educational institution of Garo Hills seeking the dissolution of the union.
“As Chairman of the Advisory Committee, I request you to dissolve the current composition of TGCSU and keep their elections for the new office bearers in abeyance till we receive clear instructions and guidance on the matter from the Director, Higher & Technical Education, Government of Meghalaya,” stated Bakshi in his letter.
Prior to the dissolution order and a halt to fresh polls, the TGCSU was due to hold its annual elections for the union posts in the next few weeks.
Giving reasons for the dissolution and keeping in abeyance any fresh election to the union body, the Deputy Commissioner stated that it was being done to prevent misuse of the organization by vested interest groups in anti-government agitations.
The members of the TGCSU stand accused of backing the statehood issue and enforcing bandhs called by the GHSMC.
“The name of TGCSU is still being unnecessary dragged into the current law and order situation and the stalemate over the release of GHSMC volunteers. The arrested students are still affiliating themselves with the TGCSU and indicating in their statements they are members and representatives of TGCSU thereby defaming the college and misusing the name of the student union,” said Bakshi in his letter to the head of the College.
The district administration has also asked the college authorities to issue a release notice for the discontinuance of all current members to the union body which is being dissolved.