TURA, Feb 10: Leaders of several organisations under the banner of All Meghalaya Civil Society met at Tura’s Rikman Continental hotel on Wednesday to deliberate on various issues that have been demanded by them from the government for long.
The delegates included leaders from the Khasi Hills region’s KSU, HNYF and Ri Bhoi Youth Federation, while from the Garo Hills it was the GSU, AYWO, FKJGP and ADE Organisations.
During the discussion, it was agreed by all groups that pressure will be exerted on both the Centre as well as the state government to ensure the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), establishment of permanent entry and exit points in different parts of the state, enforcement of the MRSSA and inclusion of both Garo and Khasi languages into the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
The GSU’s Tengsak G Momin, while addressing the gathering, said a united fight is needed for ILP to be implemented in the state.
The leaders deliberated on the upcoming GHADC elections and strongly opposed participation by non-Garos with a threat of boycott should others enter the fray or cast their ballot.
Talking about the two MDC constituencies of Shyamnagar and Balachanda having a large non-tribal population in the Phulbari-Rajabala region in which non-Garos have contested and won on several occasions, including the last polls, the All Meghalaya Civil Society has decided to appeal to all political parties, including the Congress and NPP, to refrain from giving party tickets to such persons for the upcoming polls, stating that to do so would dilute the very purpose of the district council which was created to safeguard the tribal populace.
They also questioned the delay in making the Garo Customary Law into an act to safeguard the Garos.
The alleged intrusion and illegal grabbing of land inside of Garo Hills by settlers from neighbouring Assam was also raised at the meeting.
Particular concern was raised about intrusion in the Rongsai region under West Garo Hills where outsiders have allegedly trespassed and made attempts to claim the area as part of Assam.
Besides GSU CEC president Tengsak Momin, the FKJGP president in Garo Hills, Pritam R Marak, also addressed the meeting.
