The Garo Students’ Union (GSU) of West Khasi Hills has condemned the statement of Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong wherein he said that the rules of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) allows for non-tribals to contest elections and vote.
“The minister should know that the GHADC is only for Garos, as has been provided under the Sixth Schedule. Even the KHADC and JHADC have been granted autonomy. We are saddened to hear such statements coming from the Deputy CM as he himself is an indigenous tribal of the state,” said General Secretary, Fremiush D Sangma.
The pressure group felt that instead of making such statements Tynsong should guide the GHADC on how to frame rules and regulations as has been done in KHADC and JHADC to prevent non-tribals from voting and contesting elections.
“We strongly condemn the statement and will not allow participation of non-tribals in GHADC. We will not be spectators and watch our rights being manipulated by others,” asserted Sangma through a release today.
The GSU and other pressure groups have called for a boycott of April’s GHADC elections because of the non-tribal issue.
