TURA, Feb 27: In spite of reports that Rakesh Sangma is likely to tender his resignation as Chief Executive Member of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, pressure groups in Garo Hills have decided to continue with their agitation, announcing a rally in Tura from 12 noon on Monday.
While a source has confirmed that Rakesh will step down on Monday and Siju-Rongara MDC, Albinush Marak is likely to take over the same day, the pressure groups are adamant that they be served with an official confirmation of the development.
Alleging that no written documentation had been provided to them announcing Albinush’s appointment as CEM in place of Rakesh, they made it clear that the agitation would be called off if the CEM is changed.
“We have not received a copy of his (Rakesh’s) resignation letter and thereby decided to continue our protest despite what has come out in media outlets. We are ready to call off the protest the moment this happens,” ADE president Dalseng B Ch Momin told The Shillong Times.
The past two days have seen frenetic developments in the GHADC with reports of Rakesh stepping down as CEM due to the protests. However there were no confirmations provided by the NPP leadership over the development.
The pressure groups – including the GSU, FKJGP, ADE, FAF, AYWO and AHAM, among others – have been leading a series of protests seeking his ouster as CEM over the allegation that the Babelapara MDC has not lived the Garo way of life. The protests began on the day of Rakesh’s elevation to the post of CEM and have continues without any let up.
Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma was also caught up in the protest after he was greeted with black flags and sloganeering at various sites that he had visited in the past week, including the inauguration of the astro-turf playground in Tura on Saturday.
