SHILLONG: A delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by state president Rikman G. Momin, along with party MLA Alexander Laloo Hek, spokesperson M. Kharkrang, and other party leaders, met C. H. Vijayashankar on Friday to urge him to convene a special session of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
Speaking to the media after the meeting, BJP spokesperson M. Kharkrang said the delegation apprised the Governor about the recent unfortunate incident in Garo Hills, particularly in Tura, and discussed the circumstances surrounding the situation.
Kharkrang stated that the party urged the Governor to exercise his constitutional authority to convene a special session of the GHADC to deliberate on amendments to the council’s rules. According to the BJP, the proposed amendment would make it mandatory for any candidate contesting for the post of Member of District Council (MDC) from Garo Hills to possess a valid Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate.
The delegation also requested the Governor to take up the issue at the earliest to help restore peace and normalcy in the Garo Hills region. Kharkrang said the Governor assured the delegation that the matter would be carefully examined and that legal opinion would be sought before any further steps are taken.
He further noted that the controversy arose due to the manner in which the notification was issued and later failed to stand up to legal scrutiny. Kharkrang added that since the district council already existed, the matter should have been addressed much earlier rather than shortly before the elections, which he said raises several questions.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA A. L. Hek said it would be premature to comment extensively on the issue, adding that the Governor would first study the matter in accordance with constitutional provisions before making any further statement.
