The Federation of Khasi, Jaiñtia and Garo People (FKJGP) has expressed its anguish after two major parties – the Congress and National People’s Party – gave tickets to non-tribals to contest the April elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
Pressure groups and social organisations in Garo Hills have been clamouring for the exclusion of non-tribals in the GHADC.
The FKJGP, along with other like-minded organizations, has been pushing for a separate electoral roll to exclude all non-tribals from voting or contesting.
“Political parties are well aware that we have always opposed the participation of non-tribals in the GHADC elections, both as candidates and voters. This is the aspiration of not only the NGOs but Garo people as well,” said FKJGP zonal President Pritam Arengh through a press communiqué.
Pressure groups had called for a boycott of the last GHADC election in 2015 over the same issue, which, Arengh said, led to a low turnout.
According to the release, the FKJGP maintained that the GHADC was created with the express objective of protecting the rights and customs of the Garo people.
“We do not hold any grudge against any individual for participation in either the Assembly elections or the parliamentary elections. However, participation of non-tribals in the GHADC election, either as a candidate or as a voter, will always be a bone of contention as far as we are concerned,” he added. “We challenge any political party to explain how non-tribal communities can be a part of any district council which is a product of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which exclusively adheres only to the affairs of the tribal people of India.”
The FKJGP appealed to all Garos to denounce the decision of the political parties while also asking all non-tribals to abstain from voting in the upcoming elections.
