Shillong, Jan 4: The Garo community’s demand for exclusion of Garo villages from Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) in Assam has suffered a setback with a leading Garo organisation banning another for allegedly supporting the demand for Sixth Schedule status to RHAC.
The All Assam Garo NGOs’ Forum has declared a “ban” against the Garo Students’ Union (Assam State Zone) in Assam for backing the Rabha community in their demand.
“In response to this deplorable act of betrayal, the entire Garo community, along with all Garo NGOs of Assam, has unanimously decided to impose a strict and definitive ban on the GSU (ASZ) in Assam,” a statement of the Forum said.
Claiming the response as an act to seek justice for Garo people, the Forum said, “Our collective decision to ban the GSU (ASZ) is a testament to our solidarity and determination.”
The Forum comprises Garo Students’ Federation of Assam (GSFA), Garo Autonomous Council Demand Committee (GACDC), Garo National Council (GNC) Assam State Zone, etc., it said.
The Garo community living under RHAC jurisdiction has been demanding for exclusion of Garo villages from RHAC before granting Sixth Schedule status to the latter.
Accusing the GSU (ASZ) of aligning itself with Rabha Hasong Sixth Schedule Demand Committee (RHSSDC), the Forum said, “By endorsing the grant of Sixth Schedule status purportedly on behalf of the Garo community, the GSU (ASZ) has egregiously undermined and betrayed the genuine aspirations and fundamental interests of the Garo people of Assam.”
Meanwhile, the Forum made it clear that its opposition is not against the Garo Students’ Union, Central Executive Committee (CEC), GSU Nagaland or GSU BTC (Assam).
According to the Forum, the entire Garo community of Assam stands against the specific action taken by the GSU (ASZ) in supporting Sixth Schedule to RHAC without consulting the community.
