GUWAHATI: The United Garo Autonomous Council Movement Committee (UGACMC), Assam, has threatened to stage a mass rally in Goalpara district, violating COVID safety protocols, if the government does not respond positively to its demand for a separate council for Garos residing in plains districts of the state within 15 days.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, UGACMC (Assam state) chairman, Alex K. Sangma stated that more than one lakh people from the community would take part in the public rally and that “the government of Assam would be held responsible for any consequences” in the wake of the pandemic.
“The Garo community has resolved to go to any extent in order to ensure that the promises made by the Assam government are transformed into reality. If the government can create three autonomous councils for Moran, Matak and Koch-Rajbongshi communities, then why not one more for the Garos of Assam who are the sons of the soil. But if the government does not (show any positive response), we will conclude that that it does not want to,” Sangma said.
He pointed out that the UGACMC 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, the state government has betrayed the faith bestowed by the community on it and overlooked our genuine demand,” he said.