GUWAHATI: Garo organisations in Goalpara and Kamrup districts of Assam have decided to set a five-day deadline from November 22 for the Centre and state government to respond to their demand for creation of an autonomous council, before they resort to an indefinite economic blockade if nothing fruitful emerges.
Representatives from the Garo National Council (GNC), Garo National Union, Garo Gaon Bura Santha, Garo Sahitya Sabha, Garo Mahila Parishad, Youth Parishad and All Achik Youth Federation among others have decided to stage a dharna in front of the deputy commissioner’s office in Goalpara on Thursday in this regard.
“We will give the government five days’ time to respond from that day and if nothing positive emerges, an indefinite economic blockade will be imposed in Goalpara and Kamrup districts subsequently,” GNC Assam state zone president, Thengsil Sangma told The Shillong Times on Monday.
Sangma said that memoranda to the Assam chief minister, Governor and welefare of plain tribes and backward classes minister, Chandan Brahma would be submitted by the organistions through the deputy commissioner.
“Slogans of ‘No cooperation no panchayat polls, no cooperation no Lok Sabha polls’ will be raised by our members during Thursday’s dharna.” Sangma said.
The panchayat polls in Assam are scheduled to be held in December.
As of now, the organisations have decided to defer for the second time in two months their visit to the national capital, where they are planning to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister, Rajnath Singh, Union minister of state for home affairs, Kiren Rijiju besides officials of the ministry of home affairs.
“The decision to approach the Centre has been prompted by the state government’s indifferent approach to our demand for an autonomous council, which is needed as the community is lagging behind in all fields despite being one of the oldest indigenous tribes in the Northeast,” the GNC leader said.
The organisations have time and again been staging a series of protests to push for the creation of the council, which they claim is within the framework of the Indian Constitution and is therefore legitimate.