TURA, Feb 23: The Tura Garo Senior Citizens’ Forum, while extending support to protesting groups demanding the ouster of GHADC CEM Rakesh A Sangma, on Wednesday called on the government to take necessary steps towards their demand to ensure peace in the five districts of Garo Hills.
In their representation addressed jointly to Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma and District Council Affairs Minister, James PK Sangma, the forum demanded that the new CEM should be removed or Rakesh should voluntarily step down on moral grounds to prevent any the further escalation of the situation.
“The GHADC, which is meant for Garo tribals, has been created under the Sixth Schedule in which only the Garos can exercise powers as per the Autonomous Tribal Laws with regard to their ethnic, cultural and customary practices. It is not for non-tribals. As such, the CEM of the GHADC should come from the members of the bonafide Garo tribal community,” the forum said.
The forum observed that Rakesh as well as his father and grandfather all belong to the Nepali community, all of whom have been living the Hindu way of life in terms of ethnic culture and customs.
“They do not live the Garo way of life and Rakesh should have been a Newar as per his father’s title. His becoming a Sangma is a controversy, which has led to protest against the CEM on grounds that he is not a pure Garo,” the forum added, while appealing to the government to do the needful in the interest of peace and stability in the region.
