Garo delegation among six tribal communities to meet President
Tura, Aug 21: The Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) has placed its demand for creation of “Garoland” before the President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday.
A GSMC delegation submitted a memorandum to the President during an interaction organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Representatives from six tribal communities from across the country placed their issues and grievances before the President during the meeting.
Former GHADC chief Boston Ch Marak presented before the President its grievances and reiterated the demand for a separate “Garoland”.
Inclusion of Garo language in Eighth Schedule was also among the demands highlighted by Marak, who said the language is rich in vocabulary and expression.
He also sought implementation of Agreed Text of Settlement (2014), signed by government of India, state government and now-disbanded ANVC, to enable GHADC to receive direct Central funding.
Further, Marak called for early action on 125th Amendment Bill (2019), which seeks to strengthen autonomous councils in the North East by ensuring direct financial support from the Centre.
Elaborating on the demand for Garoland, Marak said it was a historic demand dating back to 1895 when patriotic leader Late Matgrik Sonaram R Sangma first raised the call for a separate homeland. The movement, he said, has since been carried forward by successive generations of Garo leaders.
Citing Articles 3 and 14 of the Constitution, GSMC argued that the creation of Garoland is a constitutional right of the Garo people, rooted in the principles of equality and self-governance.
The GSMC delegation, led by acting chairman Balkarin Ch Marak, formally submitted the memorandum to the President and announced that they would persist the movement for Garoland.
“We urge all Garos to stand united in this demand, and with faith in the Almighty, we will pursue this cause until the goal is achieved,” the Committee said.
