Shillong, Aug 13: Rongrong MDC Rinaldo K Sangma has urged the Voice of the People Party (VPP) to refrain from making statements that could create unnecessary communal division over the proposed electoral roll for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
In a press release issued on Thursday, Sangma said issues related to tribal identity and the Sixth Schedule are sensitive and must be discussed with constitutional responsibility and restraint.
He termed it “unfortunate” that the VPP Garo Hills President, KN Marak, had portrayed the inclusion of other Scheduled Tribe communities in the GHADC electoral roll as a dilution of Garo rights and identity.
Sangma stated that Khasi, Jaintia and other ST communities residing in Garo Hills have always been part of the GHADC electoral process, just as Garo people participate in KHADC elections.
“The Sixth Schedule is intended to protect tribal self-governance and political representation. It should not be interpreted in a manner that creates hostility between different indigenous tribal communities of Meghalaya,” he said.
Sangma appealed to the VPP leadership to exercise greater caution, stating that political parties must not create the impression that one Scheduled Tribe community is opposed to the democratic rights of another. He added that solutions should be based on constitutional legality, consultation and mutual respect, not on exclusionary rhetoric.
