SHILLONG, MAR 12: The state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it “stands solidly” with tribal communities and demanded that no “infiltrator” be allowed to contest elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
In a statement, BJP state president Rikman G Momin expressed deep concern over the violence in Chibinang, Tura and elsewhere on March 9‑10 and urged that peace and normalcy be restored.
He said the BJP wants to state its position clearly that “no infiltrator should be allowed to contest in the elections of the GHADC”.
“The GHADC is a body established under the Sixth Schedule of our Constitution to protect the rights and self-governance of indigenous tribal communities. That protection must be upheld,” Momin stated while further adding “Whether it is the Tribal Autonomous District Council elections, the Legislative Assembly elections, or the Parliamentary elections, no infiltrator should be permitted to infiltrate any of these democratic processes, anywhere in India.”
The party warned of a “deeply troubling pattern” in tribal council areas. Momin called it “not migration” but a systematic subversion of identity, of tribal rights, and of electoral process.
“The infiltrators are marrying into local communities, and through these marriages, they obtain their titles along with other local documents like Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, ration cards, and attempt to present themselves as legitimate residents. This also enables them to acquire lands and property in that area. This is not migration. This is a systematic subversion of identity, of tribal rights, and of our electoral process,”he said while demanding that the strictest possible laws be enacted against this practice at the earliest.
“In future this law will preserve their lands, property and people of Garo tribe from infiltrators who are slowly occupying their resources, land, property and people through marriage. Those who enter our country illegally and attempt to manipulate our election and administration must face the full force of the law,” Momin stated.
The BJP state president pledged that the central government stands ready and willing to assist the state government in restoring peace across the entire Garo Hills region.
“The people of the North‑East deserve better. The tribal communities of Garo Hills deserve the protection that the Constitution promises them.”
By Our Reporter
