From Our Correspondent
TURA, March 4: A Garo Hills-based group called ASPF, on Wednesday, condemned attempts by certain leaders and “vested-interest individuals” to pressure the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) into revoking an order making Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates mandatory for contesting upcoming polls.
The group alleged that pressure was being exerted on GHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Albinush Marak and the Secretary to the Executive Committee to dilute the order, which was issued on February 17.
In a statement, the ASPF noted that the GHADC is a constitutional body under the Sixth Schedule and argued that its electoral processes must be free from political expediency. “To threaten public officials to reverse a lawful compliance order strikes at the root of constitutional governance and the rule of law,” the organisation stated.
Calling on the Garo and broader tribal communities to defend the council’s integrity, the group said Autonomous District Councils were intended as instruments of empowerment rather than arenas for manipulation.
The ASPF urged authorities to protect officials discharging their statutory duties and warned that any attempt to derail the lawful electoral process would face resistance.
