TURA, March 12: A tense situation prevailed on the outskirts of Tura town during the morning hours of Friday when protesters, belonging to organisations in opposition to non-tribal participation in the upcoming GHADC elections, prevented candidates from crossing over to file their nomination papers.
Police had to be rushed in to contain the situation and provide escort to the candidates to submit their nomination papers in the deputy commissioner’s office in Tura.
“Groups of people blocked our vehicle as we were heading up to Tura along the Damalgre stretch of the road. We were scared because they said there is a road blockade to oppose non-tribal participation,” recalled a driver of one of the vehicles which was stopped by the protesters.
It was a harrowing experience for the candidates and their supporters as the sudden turn of events took them by surprise.
Congress candidate from Batabari Constituency and a former legislator from the minority-dominated plain-belt constituency of Rajabala, Ashahel D Shira, expressed shock over the lack of preparedness by the district administration to the incident while appealing for calm from all sides.
“This kind of confrontation at a time of elections does not bode well. It can trigger a more dangerous situation. Why was the district administration totally unprepared to anticipate such an event when there was already a protest rally against non-tribal participation, a day earlier?” questioned Shira.
Appealing for calm, he said that whatever differences are there should be settled in the court of law.
“We need to remember that it is not just the non-tribals who stay in the plain-belt region. We have a sizable population of tribals living there also. We need to coexist with our neighbours and strive for the progress of society as a whole,” urged Ashahel D Shira.
‘Exclude non-tribals
from contesting polls’
The convenor of the All Garo Hills Joint Action Committee (AGHJAC) has petitioned the Chief Election Commissioner for the debarment of non-tribals from contesting the GHADC elections.
In the appeal, the convenor, Balkarin Ch Marak, pointed out that there is no provision in the Sixth Schedule pertaining to the eligibility of non-tribal candidates to contest in the GHADC elections.
“Therefore, I sincerely request you not to allow the non-tribal candidates to file nomination papers for the ensuing GHADC elections based on the Sixth Schedule which governs the autonomous district councils including the holding and conduct of elections,” he said.