SHILLONG, OCT 17: The Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC) has demanded the state government to revoke its decision to appoint the deputy commissioner of West Garo Hills Vibhor Aggarwal as the principal secretary of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
“We strong condemn…(and we) demand that the government revoke this decision immediately and restore full autonomy to the GHADC in the true spirit of the Sixth Schedule,” MPYC president Timjim K Momin said in a statement issued on Friday.
According to Momin, this move is a direct assault on the spirit and purpose of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution one of the most important safeguards created to protect the rights, identity, and self-governance of the tribal people of Northeast India.
“It was under the Congress Government that the Sixth Schedule was introduced, recognizing the importance of preserving the distinct culture, traditions, and governance of the tribal communities.
Unfortunately, the NPP-led Government is now attempting to undermine and dilute the very foundation of the Sixth Schedule. By placing a serving Deputy Commissioner an officer of the State administration in charge of the GHADC, the NPP Government has effectively brought the Council under bureaucratic control, thereby attempting to scrap the essence of the Sixth Schedule from Garo Hills,” he said in a statement issued on Friday.
The MPYC also expressed disappointment with the current GHADC executive committee (EC), stating its inability to manage the council’s affairs has led to such bureaucratic interference.
“If the current EC cannot manage the affairs of the Council effectively, then it must be scrapped and replaced with leadership that respects the Constitution and the rights of the people,” Momin said.
“…the Sixth Schedule is not just a law, it is the lifeline of tribal self-rule and identity. Any attempt to weaken it will be met with strong resistance from the people of Garo Hills and the Youth Congress,” he added.
By Our Reporter
