Tura, June 16: The Common people from different walks as well as the imminent leaders from the different NGOs of Garo Hills taking part in the first ever agitational program for Winter Capital in Tura in the history of the state. The meeting started with the Short Exhortation from Rev. I. C Marak, Director of H.E.M, who blessed the program with the Word from God.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Thomas M Marak, President of ACHIK Krima Council informs the participants that although Winter Capital or Second Capital in Tura has been an agreed policy of the pioneers of the Meghalaya state, it has just remained a distant dream with no actual policy for implementation is yet to be implemented in 51 years of statehood.
Shri Macklawrence M Sangma, Working President of ACHIK Krima Council, Chairing the program highlighted that in 51 years of the Meghalaya statehood, many NGOs of Garo Hills has aired and submitted memorandum on the issue, however he said that in the era of Garo people and history, this agitational program has crafted history by making it the first ever agitational program which was solely meant for the creation of Winter Capital/Second Capital in Tura.
Former GSU leader and former CEM of GHADC, Shri P. K. Sangma taking part in the occasion informed that Winter Capital has been the right of the Garo People as it was an agreement by all the leaders of the state during the statehood movement and added that Meghalaya’s statehood is incomplete without the establishment of Winter Capital in Tura.
Smt. Bernita R. Marak, General Secretary, ACHIK Krima Council elaborated on the technicalities of Winter Capital and clarified that Winter Capital in Tura when established will be the capital for Legislative, Executive and Judiciary for 6 (six) months.
Taking the way forward on the program, Shri Laben Ch. Marak, former MCS & former MPS, said that agitational program for Winter Capital is not a diversion tactics from the Reservation Roster, as ACHIK has been looking into the issue of the rights of the A·chikpeople and both Reservation Roster and Winter Capital are the rights of the A·chik people and the organization will not settle for less.
Other who spoke on the occasion and took part in the program were imminent leaderslike General Secretary from GSU(CEC) Interim Body, Garo Hills State Movement Committee (GSMC),VicePresident of FKJGP – Garo Hills , Shri Chris Kabul Sangma, Shri Anand Momin, President of TGCSU,A·chik Mahindra Pik Up Union, etc.
The meeting concluded with an oath to take the awareness on the issue of Winter Capital in Tura to every district, block, village and households in Garo Hills.
