Guwahati: The Meghalaya unit of BJP on Friday urged governor CH Vijayashankar to convene a special session of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) to pass a resolution barring non-tribals from contesting or participating in council elections.The demand comes in the wake of recent violence in West Garo Hills, where protests over candidate eligibility for GHADC polls led to arson, vandalism and clashes that killed two people and injured several others. Shops, vehicles and establishments were damaged, prompting curfew in the area.
The party proposed amending Rule 128(1)(a) of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous District Council Rules, 1951, to mandate that candidates and voters must be citizens of India and scheduled tribes of Meghalaya.A delegation led by state BJP president Rikman G Momin submitted a memorandum to the governor seeking urgent intervention to safeguard the rights and identity of indigenous tribal communities.Momin said the GHADC, created under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, was meant to protect tribal rights, and allowing non-tribals to contest undermines its spirit.
