By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 11: Leader of Opposition Mukul M. Sangma on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the recent developments in Garo Hills and urged Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma to immediately convene a meeting involving elected representatives, political parties and civil society organisations to collectively address the situation.
Speaking to reporters, Sangma said he was deeply disturbed by the unfortunate developments and the continuing incidents of violence in the region, stressing that such violence must be avoided.
He informed that he had spoken to the Chief Minister over the telephone and urged him to immediately call a meeting of all elected representatives in the Assembly, leaders of political parties, and members representing various social and civil society organisations so that all stakeholders could come together to deliberate on the issue and find ways to resolve it.
According to Sangma, convening such a meeting at the earliest would send a strong message that there is a collective response from all concerned to address the issue before the people and work towards restoring peace and normalcy.
He also pointed out that lack of clarity on the issue had contributed to the present situation, stating that confusion often becomes the root cause of unrest as people begin to interpret developments in their own way.
The former Chief Minister said governance requires a proper understanding of the gravity and sensitivity of issues and emphasised that comprehending the magnitude of a problem is essential in finding appropriate solutions.
PM Modi’s intervention sought
With the situation in Garo Hills remaining volatile for the third straight day, an appeal was made to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his intervention to safeguard indigenous self-governance in the GHADC.
In an email addressed to the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday, Patrick SR Marak — husband of former Tura MP Agatha Sangma — urged the Prime Minister to initiate a national-level discussion on strengthening constitutional safeguards governing Autonomous District Councils. Marak stated that he was writing as a concerned citizen from the Garo Hills regarding the constitutional and administrative future of the GHADC, which was established to protect the land, customs, traditions and political rights of the indigenous tribal communities of the region. He noted that historically the Garo Hills has been recognised as a protected tribal area where traditional institutions such as the Nokma system and customary governance structures play a crucial role in preserving the identity and rights of the indigenous population. However, he said concerns have been growing among sections of the indigenous community that the present electoral framework of the council may not sufficiently safeguard the principle of tribal self-governance envisioned under the Sixth Schedule.
He also suggested that the Sixth Schedule may be reviewed to clarify the eligibility criteria for candidates contesting council elections so that the original objective of safeguarding tribal autonomy is preserved. Marak said the people of the Garo Hills deeply value India’s constitutional framework and that the protection of indigenous rights remains fully consistent with the spirit of the Constitution.
