GUWAHATI: The United Garo Autonomous Council Movement Committee (UGACMC) has alleged “discrimination” against Garos in the state, claiming that the Assam government has betrayed the community by overlooking several demands and pleas for a separate autonomous council.
In a statement issued on Thursday, UGACMC (Assam state) chairman, Alex K. Sangma stated that the committee had adhered to the directives of the state government to prepare a comprehensive survey of the Garo population in Assam and had also submitted the same earlier this year.
“However even after promising a separate autonomous council to the representatives of the Garos of Assam in 2018 and directing UGACMC to submit a population survey, there has been no initiative so far. On the contrary, separate autonomous councils have been created for Moran, Moran and Koch-Rajbongshi communities without the communities submitting similar population surveys, which vindicates the clear evidence of discrimination against the Garos of Assam who are the most deprived and underprivileged section of population in the state,” Sangma alleged.
The UGACMC leader said that the committee on behalf of the Garo community in the state would strongly oppose any decision of the government which deprives the community of its rights and privileges.
“We reiterate our demand for a separate council prior to the grant of Sixth Schedule status to the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council. Otherwise, the UGACMC will be compelled to intensify its agitation in various ways until our genuine demand for creation of a separate autonomous council is fulfilled,” he said.
Earlier this month, the council had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a separate autonomous council (on satellite basis) within the framework of the Indian Constitution.
