Shillong, Mar 23: The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) today passed the long-awaited amendment to its rules by mandating that any candidate contesting its elections possess a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate.
Garo Hills, particularly West Garo Hills, witnessed a deterioration in the law and order situation after a former non-tribal MLA, Esmatur Mominin, tried to file his nomination papers for the GHADC polls on March 9. Curfews and internet shutdowns were clamped, two lives were lost and much property was looted and/or destroyed. The state government had to postpone the GHADC elections, which were scheduled for April 10, and extended the council’s term by six months.
However, the scene in Tura and elsewhere on Monday witnessed celebrations and loud cheers as soon as the news of the amendment was made public. A previous attempt, before the March 9 disturbance, to amend the rules was struck down by the High Court for failing to follow prescribed norms. Even this amendment needs the Meghalaya Governor’s signature to come into force.
For the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), this was an abrupt about-turn. The party’s stand had consistently been in favour of non-tribal participation (in fact, Mominin was a former NPP member) and much was said about how non-tribal and tribal alike had worked together for the creation for the GHADC when it was formed in 1951 (when Meghalaya was still part of Assam).
However, the strength of public feeling among the Garo community could not be ignored by the NPP, whose foundational strength lies in Garo Hills. Perhaps realising that resistance to the exclusion of non-tribals would be the ultimate vote loser, the party has now positioned itself as a staunch defender of tribal rights.
“This is a historic and important decision. Autonomous bodies are meant for the tribal people of the region and such conditions are necessary,” Chief Minister and NPP supremo Conrad K Sangma said today, adding that this was a long-pending demand of the people, which had not been fulfilled for the past 74 years by any government or district council.
He also expressed hope that non-tribal communities will understand that autonomous councils in the North East are meant to protect the interests of tribal communities. However, given the equally strong feelings on the non-tribal side, the NPP may lose support in the plains belt of Garo Hills but it will hope for a corresponding bump in its favour among the tribals.
