The Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) submitted a request to President Droupadi Murmu regarding vintage guns owned by members of the Garo community since the First and Second World Wars.
The interesting request specifically asks that the owners of the weapons be given tax exemptions regarding their repair, “renewal” and preservation.
“These firearms were issued to our forefathers, brave participants in the First and Second World Wars (1914-1945), as symbols of their contribution to the global fight for peace. The firearms, many of which were manufactured in the United States and Germany, have become invaluable artifacts and are part of a living memorial to the sacrifices made by the Garo soldiers in these wars,” the GSMC said.
They are now considered “priceless heirlooms” as they have been passed down the generations over the years and are now part of the tribe’s shared history, the GSMC added.
However, the Second World War ended 80 years ago this year, while the First World War is now more than a century old. As such, the weapons from this time require maintenance and spare parts, many of which have to be imported from their country of origin. The import duties on these are making the procedure prohibitively expensive, Murmu was told, and the GSMC has requested that a special tax waiver be given so that these necessary parts can be imported into the country for the weapons’ preservation.
