TURA, April 13: The A’chik Conscious Holistic Integrated Krima (ACHIK) on Thursday demanded that the state government should maintain 1972 as the cut-off year for implementation of the roster system.
The group submitted a memorandum to Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Thursday and demanded that the cut-off year of 1972 should be taken up for discussion either in the next Cabinet meeting or the proposed all-party meeting, whichever is convened.
It warned that there would be no compromise on the issue of cut-off date for the Roster system and that the year 1972 be considered to bring equity to the injustices meted out to the A’chik people.
“ACHIK would like to reiterate that there would not be any compromise on the cut-off date and the year 1972 should be considered for the roster system of job reservation policy which is a system to bring equity to the injustices met out to the A’chik people,” it said in the memo. The organisation warned that if its demands are unheeded, it would not hesitate to resort to democratic rallies and demonstrations under the provisions of the Constitution and added that mobilisation by the organisation for the same has already started throughout the Garo Hills.
“The organisation would not stop at democratic rallies and demonstrations but would approach even the Supreme Court if injustice is meted out to the A’chik people during the decisions of the Cabinet or the all-party meet on the issue of roster system,” it added.
In its petition, the organisation also reiterated its demand for setting up of the Winter Capital (in Tura) and pointed out that the matter has already been raised with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
Meanwhile, to discuss the two issues, a meeting was held at Baghmara which was attended by citizens and students.
During the meeting, the organisation called out to the A’chik people to join hands for the cause.
The group reminded that the rights and entitlement of the Garos were robbed for 50 years and the people are now merely demanding that this injustice be rectified once and for all.
