SHILLONG, MAR 12: Congress Tura MP Saleng A Sangma on Thursday pinned the Garo Hills crisis on decades of legal neglect saying that flare-up over non-tribal nominations stemmed from “the rule which was not framed earlier”.
“I am not blaming anybody right now,” Sangma told reporters after meeting Governor CH Vijayashankar.
“It is the rule, which was not framed earlier because our seniors have not foreseen what would have happened now because of their carelessness.”
The MP said consultations will follow to chart a way forward, as pressure rises for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council to adopt clear eligibility codes under the Sixth Schedule.
“Since we don’t want (this kind of unrest to happen) in the future, we are going to have a word with my people, with the seniors and elders and with all intellectuals, who will be able to give us the advice on how to go about it.”
Asked on the governor’s view on the entire issue, Sangma said, “The governor is very much in view of the rules.”
Expressing dismay that the vacuum had persisted for years, the MP said, “If the rules are in place then definitely these things would not have happened,” Sangma said, adding that because the autonomous district councils never adopted them, “these things have been lingering for many years.”
He informed that the Governor has asserted the need to bring necessary amendments to the AD rules.
“The Governor told us, go back and see how to go about with the rules and procedures and what kind of amendments should be done; we will discuss with the people.”
Sangma described the Governor as “with the people, for peace” and “very much positive to whatever we will do.”
The MP stressed the constitutional distinction at the heart of the Garo Hills unrest saying, “The Sixth Schedule is for the tribal and everybody knows it…you cannot coincide fundamental rights with that particular Sixth Schedule because it has totally got a different structure, it has its own autonomy.”
He argued that framers intended each district council to devise its own electoral college and eligibility code.
“The district council has to come up with the amendment and the rules and even the electoral college should be framed by the district council itself.”
The MP has also expressed concern over Ronhingyas entering not only Meghalaya but other parts of India’s borders
Meanwhile, Sangma has requested “one‑two more” CRPF camps and deployment of other forces in sensitive pockets to bring turmoil into peace and reassure youth agitated over non‑tribal participation in autonomous district council matters.
By Our Reporter
