Amid escalating tension in parts of the Garo Hills following violence linked to the nomination process for the elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Member of Parliament from the Tura Parliamentary constituency Saleng A. Sangma on Thursday met C. H. Vijayashankar, Governor of Meghalaya, at Lok Bhawan, raising concerns over the prevailing law and order situation in the region and urging the establishment of additional security camps in sensitive areas. During the meeting, the Congress MP also asserted that the law must be allowed to take its own course and that those responsible for triggering the present unrest must be held accountable, while cautioning that the disturbances may have been instigated by vested interests seeking to take advantage of the situation. He emphasised that Garo Hills and Meghalaya have otherwise remained peaceful and called for calm even as discussions with the Governor also focused on procedural and constitutional issues surrounding the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
Informing about the meeting, Sangma said, “The whole objective is how to handle the situation right now whichever the issue that have been cropped up in Garo Hills. The main was the sixth scheduled so we have talked very much in length on how to go go with the procedural correct way and another one is about the border issue how is Rohingyas are entering not only our state but other parts of International border also so those things. Moreover at present how to bring peace in Garo Hills and how we will try to make our youth (understand) who is already agitated about the situation about the 6th schedule areas , why the non tribal areas coming in between so likewise we have talked very much in length and then I have requested him to put one two more security camps like CRPF and like if we can put more forces in the affected areas where our people are protected.”
Speaking about the prevailing atmosphere in Garo Hills, the MP said the situation was gradually stabilising with the collective involvement of various sections of society. “Right now, the situation has been handled by everybody. Why I am saying everybody is that everybody is involved by everyone, even the preachers, fathers, I want to thank our Bishop also, who is praying for our people to come back into peace. And then even the reverends, everyone, every citizen of Garo Hills is praying that this situation is handled in a way that should be handled and peace should come to our state and then nobody should fight with anybody and the right which is given to the tribal people should not be snatched and then since there was no such rule in place that particular procedure we have to follow and then see what we can do.”
He also said he would soon return to the region to consult community leaders and stakeholders on the way forward. “Definitely, I’ll go back to Garo Hills and discuss this matter with all my senior leaders, advisors, and then I’ll definitely meet with my people and then see what we can do. Because right now, I think I want to thank especially the police personnel, I mean the police department, who has handled the situation very, very nicely. Otherwise, it might have gone out of hand. And thanks to the police department and all the other departments who are involved, especially in taking care of the situations and calming the situation right now. Even the DC office currently says so.”
Responding to queries on whether he would press for an enquiry into the developments, Sangma said, “I won’t say press right now because the law will take its own course because whoever has already created this particular situations right now I think one has to take responsibility actually regarding why the situation has crop up at the very instance. Otherwise, Garo Hills right now is a peaceful place, even Meghalaya is a peaceful state right now. So looking at the whole scenario, somebody might have instigated someone to do something because you never know whether it’s politically motivated or maybe somebody wants to take advantage of the situation. So, let’s pray everything is fine.”
Asked whom he blamed for the situation, the MP said, “I don’t want to blame anybody right now. It’s the rule which was not framed earlier because our seniors, they have not foreseen what would have happened, What have happened now because of their carelessness. So this is the thing that is happening. So we don’t want it to follow in the future. So that’s why we are going to have a word with my people out there and with the seniors, with the elders, with all the intellectuals who may be able to give us the advice how to go about it.”
On the Governor’s response to concerns surrounding the participation of non-tribal citizens in Sixth Schedule areas, Sangma said the constitutional framework and the absence of detailed rules had been a key factor behind the present confusion. “Actually, the governor is very much in view of the rules. If the rules are in place, then definitely these things would not have happened. But since the rule has not been adopted by the district council, that’s why this thing has been lingering for many, many years. If the rule was framed already from before, then we need not have to face these particular consequences that has happened. That’s why the governor has told us that you go back and see how to go about with the rules, procedures. and then what kind of amendment that should be done, we will discuss with the people. Governor is with the people. He’s for peace and then he’s for the people. So governor is very much positive to whatever we will do.”
Reiterating his position on the constitutional safeguards meant for indigenous communities, Sangma added, “6th schedule is for the tribal and every body knows it and every body should know it.”
