Garo organizations 'not satisfied' with Chief Minister's assurance

A CORRESPONDENT

BOKO: A meeting was held between Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and various Garo organizations in the presence of Dr Numal Momin, MLA of Bokakhat, Hrishikesh Goswami, Press Adviser to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and WPT&BC Secretary, Hiren Chandra Nath recently regarding the formation of Garo Autonomous Council (GAC) in Assam on satellite basis for Garo tribes living in Assam.

In the meeting, various Garo organizations like Garo National Council (GNC), Garo Students' Union (GSU), Garo Youth Council (GYC) and United Garo Autonomous Council Movement Committee (UGACMC) took part. In the meeting, the problems faced by Garo tribal people of Assam were discussed. The Chief Minister assured that he would take up the long-standing demand of Garo Autonomous Council within 2-3 months.

The Garo National Council (GNC), however, was not satisfied with the meeting. The president of the GNC, Arbitson Momin said that in the meeting the Chief Minister did not give them a time-frame for formation of Garo Autonomous Council for the Garos of Assam. "We are not satisfied with his assurance," he said.

Sangma also added that creation of Garo Autonomous Council was a long-standing demand of the Garo people. He said that bill was passed recently for formation of autonomous councils for Moran, Motok and Kamatapur. "We are not against this as we welcome more and more autonomy in Assam. But why should the Garos be left out and neglected? This step-motherly treatment will not be tolerated at any cost. We are the sons of soil of Assam. Garo organizations will be forced to launch mass agitation," Sangma added.

Alex K Sangma, chairman of UGACMC, said that the Chief Minister assured that the Garo Autonomous Council would be created soon within 2-3 months and for this a sub-committee would be formed. Sangma said that the Garo Autonomous Council should be formed before the winter session of the legislative assembly.

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