Shillong, March 25: The decision on holding elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) will be taken only after discussions with the Council leaders, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Wednesday.
“We are in close touch with the leaders of the district council, the new CEM and the new EC, and based on discussions, we will see how to move forward,” the Chief Minister told reporters.
The question of holding the polls arisen in the wake of the Governor CH Vijayashankar’s approval to the recent amendment to a GHADC’s norm, making Scheduled Tribe certificate mandatory to contest the Council election.
Replying to a query, he said, “We will see how it goes because again it is not the state government. I want to be very clear about it. As chief minister, I am there to always guide and always give whatever thoughts from our side, but ultimately the district council has to take a call.”
Emphasising the autonomous nature of the Council, Sangma said, “The district council is an autonomous body, so hence we will see and we will wait for the different decisions being made by the Council.”
The GHADC election was earlier scheduled for April 10 before being postponed following weeks of violent protests against non-tribal participation in the election.
Govt to examine demand for enquiry
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said the government would examine the demand for constituting an inquiry into the recent unrest in Garo Hills.
Referring to a letter from Leader of Opposition Dr Mukul Sangma in this regard, the Chief Minister said, “The kind of incidents that happened and the kind of situation that unfolded does require some kind of investigation…as to what led to the circumstances and who were involved… especially the section where violence took place and public and private properties were damaged… so those aspects do need to be looked into detail.”
However, informing that the government is yet to take a call on the investigation, he said, “But how and what kind of inquiry, we are yet to examine because of course we have been busy with this particular situation. So, in the days to come, we will take a call (on the setting up of an inquiry).”
Regarding allegations of random arrests following the Garo Hills unrest, Sangma said, “Again, I have been very clear that the law has to take its course. In that process, the police will always move on evidence and move as per the law. I am not in a position to really comment on that aspect. It is purely a police work and it is not that I sit with them and go through the files and investigation as it is a completely an independent process.”
“The concerned SP and concerned DIG or IG will be in a better position to reply, and you can always ask them,” he said.
