More groups join opposition to Ali as Chairman

TURA, June 13: A conglomeration of local bodies from Tura on Sunday strongly opposed the move of the GHADC’s new EC to appoint non-tribal MDC Akthar Ali as the Chairman of the Forest Advisory Committee.
The combined local bodies comprising, the New Tura Development Forum (NTDF), Tura Garo Senior Citizens’ Forum (TGSCF) and the Garo Graduates’ Union (GGU), while strongly condemning the move said that the appointment has been made despite the fact that there were numerous and repeated resentments, protests and demands made on the relevant issues relating to the entry of non-tribals into GHADC administration, like barring them from participation and contesting GHADC elections by various groups of people across Garo Hills districts in the recent past.
“People of Garo Hills were looking forward to the new Executive Committee (EC) with great expectations when it took over GHADC affairs and showed their good gestures initially by involving the general public of Garo Hills for good governance of the Institution. However, the EC instead of strengthening the institution to safeguard the interest of the indigenous tribals of Garo Hills, chose to hurt the sentiments of the tribals by ignoring their expectations and aspirations with the appointment of a non-tribal as a Chairman of the Institution,” the combined groups said.
The groups demanded the immediate cancellation of the appointment and urged the GHADC authorities not to appoint non-tribals to the post of any position in the EC.
They also made an appeal to fellow citizens and groups to strongly denounce the appointment and to demand for its cancellation.