TURA, Feb 14: Various NGOs of the Garo Hills region, on Monday, led a massive protest in the premises of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) seeking the ouster of the current CEM, Rakesh Sangma over his ‘mixed heritage.’
Monday’s protest was the fourth such agitation by the civil society organisations, GSU, ADE, FAF, AYWO, NESO, FKJGP among others that began immediately after Rakesh was elected to the post following the defeat of the former CEM, Benedic Marak. The NGOs further announced four days of picketing of the offices of the GHADC over the same demand. The picketing will last until Friday.
In the first phase, the NGOs began a pen down protest within GHADC by its employees before a 2-day non cooperation movement was called. Last week saw a 4 day night road blockade before the NGOs met once again last week for a huge protest rally today at the GHADC offices at Tura.
The rally today saw thousands come together with gathering protestors rallying together even before the start of the program.
Security in and around the GHADC and its surrounding areas was beefed up in view of the agitation with police trying to stop the entry of the protestors within the premises of the GHADC. However the sheer numbers gathered as well as the numerous entry points to the Council made the task impossible for the security men. Later huge numbers were able to move within the premises though there have been no reports of any form of vandalism taking place.
The protestors gathered within the boundaries of the Council where various leaders including Pritam Arengh (FKJGP), Tengsak Momin (GSU) spoke on the issue and demanded that the CEM be removed and replaced.
After the meeting, the protesters marched from the GHADC shouting loud slogans of their demand which could be heard even at the main market in Tura, more than 2 kms away.
Shops in the Hawakhana area, where the protest moved through were shut down. The protestors rallied until the TGC playground in Tetengkol before disbanding for the day.
“The reason we are demanding the removal of Rakesh as CEM is the fact that we know for a fact that he and his family have not followed Garo traditions. As CEM, he will have judicial powers and that is something that we are all apprehensive about. How will he in arbitration of cases of customs of Garos adjudicate when he and his family has not followed the traditions themselves,” said Pritam when speaking to the press after the event.
The NGOs added that they were determined in their demand and would not stop until Rakesh was removed from the post. Support for their demand, as per the NGOs, has been pouring in from all districts.