Tura, March 27: Former Lok Sabha speaker and National People’s Party
candidate, Purno Agitok Sangma today asserted on the need for creation
of a Garoland state, carved out of Meghalaya.
The veteran politician addressed three rallies in East Garo Hills,
which is a Congress stronghold. In all his campaign rallies at
Williamnagar, Rongsak and Rombagre for the upcoming Lok Sabha
election, schedule for April 9, Purno sought for people’s support for
raising pitch for Garoland.
“Voice of the people is more powerful than grenade and AKs. I seek
your vote for Garoland”, he said.
Urging all insurgent groups in Garo hills to come forward for
peace-talks, he said, “Your fight for creation of Garoland by guerilla
movement is not correct. Be a voice for the A’chik and eschew peace. I
will lead and ensure that Garoland is created”.
Lambasting the Congress party for its wrong policies in dealing with
insurgency, he said, “I will raise my pitch at the highest level in
the Parliament. If we all unite and raise our voice, it will
definitely be heard. It is not an essay task but we can make it
happen”.
Seeking public support for the renewed movement for Garoland, the
veteran politician and former chief minister of Meghalaya said, “If
you vote NPP, you vote for Garoland”.
He also asked, “Will you vote for money and alcohol or Garoland?”
This is for the first time that Purno Sangma has raised his voice for
creation of a Garoland state. He told The Telegraph, “I was waiting
for the right time to raise my voice. The Garos have an aspiration for
the creation of a separate homeland. It is a question of our pride and
identity”.
He told that the movement for the proposed Garoland state will
comprise of five Garo hills districts.
“In West Khasi hills and Assam, the Garos have a good majority. But we
will stick to the territory of Garo hills to begin our movement”, he
said.
He told that the state government has worked out a compromising policy
with A’chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) on creation of a Garo
hills territorial council in line with Bodoland territorial council,
which is not acceptable to the NPP.
The ANVC has signed an “agreed text of settlement” on January 5, 2013
for according more autonomy to the existing Garo hills autonomous
district council (GHADC).
He even termed the talks with breakaway faction of ANVC as
“unconstitutional”, as government has brought the ANVC-B under the
“agreed text of settlement”. He questioned, “How could ANVC-B, which
has a separate identity be part of the ceasefire with its parent
outfit?”.(SP News)
