Opposition to GHADC polls: Public meetings held

TURA: Several Garo NGOs have been touring the length and breadth of Garo Hills in an effort to create awareness on the issue of inclusion of non-tribals in the District Council Electoral Rolls as well as the provisions enshrined in the Sixth Schedule under which the District Council was created.
The NGOs, which included the Tengsak led faction of the GSU, FAF, FKJGP, ADE and AYWO on Monday organized public meetings at Betasing and Nokatgre under Garobadha in South West Garo Hills and Rongram in West Garo Hills where the people were sensitized about their rights to protect and preserve the customary laws and traditions under the provisions enshrined in the Sixth Schedule.
“The people of Garo Hills gave a referendum that the municipal elections cannot be held in Garo Hills and the government had to stop the elections. The people must once again come together to give a unanimous decision that non-tribals must not participate in the GHADC elections. We believe that the indigenous people of Garo Hills will support us by not taking part in this GHADC Elections which is the dilution of the spirit of the Sixth Schedule,” the NGOs said.