Purakhasia(Meghalaya), Aug 26: A public rally was held in Purakhasia, Southwest Garo Hills, where hundreds of people gathered to protest against the MDA government’s failure to address the ongoing crisis at the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) and its “anti-people” policies.
The rally, organised by the Joint Action Committee of Purakhasia, was attended by a broad cross-section of the community, including Nokmas, NGO leaders, senior citizens, and a large number of youths.
Dr. Mukul Sangma, Leader of the Opposition, led the rally and strongly criticized the government’s handling of the GHADC crisis. He slammed the government for not paying GHADC employees’ salaries for over 42 months, calling it a “crippling” situation that reflects the government’s insensitivity and neglect of constitutional responsibilities. Dr. Sangma also questioned the government’s accountability regarding the alleged misuse of ₹100.71 crore in central assistance released to GHADC in 2015-16.
The rally demanded that the government release the pending salaries of GHADC employees immediately, constitute a State Finance Commission to ensure fiscal justice, and implement the 2014 Tripartite Agreement to strengthen the ADCs. Dr. Sangma emphasized that the GHADC crisis is not just a financial issue but also a matter of protecting tribal rights and autonomy, as enshrined in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The rally was also attended by Richard Marak, District Convenor of West Garo Hills TMC, and Saljagringrang Marak, District Convenor of South Garo Hills TMC, along with other senior leaders and youth members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The event highlighted the growing discontent among the people of Meghalaya against the MDA government’s policies and its handling of the GHADC crisis.
