Shillong, March 18: The Congress has rejected the extension of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) by six more months, and pointed out that elections can be held in 27 out of 29 constituencies.
Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) working president Deborah Marak told reporters that the party never endorsed the move and that a shorter, targeted approach was possible.
“Six months is very long,” Marak said.
She said that elections could have been held in 27 of 29 seats except Shyamnagar and Balachanda, the two constituencies at the centre of a dispute over non‑tribal participation.
“They could have suspended these two constituencies, allowed polls elsewhere, and let a new executive committee find a good mechanism to solve the ongoing problem,” she said.
Marak also said the Congress supports the demand that non‑tribals should not contest in Shyamnagar and Balachanda and expressed frustration that Chief Minister Conrad Sangma did not call an all‑party meeting,” which she said would have provided inputs on limiting seats.
“The chief minister should have called an all‑party meeting, but he did not. We could have given inputs — we would have suggested suspending elections only in Shyamnagar and Balachanda”, she said.
MPCC secretary Manuel Badwar said the GHADC should amend its rules so that only tribal candidates can contest elections.
“When the autonomous district councils (ADCs) were formed under Sixth Schedule, late Jawaharlal Nehru was very clear the ADCs are to ensure tribals have their own form of governance…right to govern their own land and people.”
Badwar said Tura MP Saleng Sangma had met the Governor, who showed inclination towards sorting out the problem, and said the council could pass amendments with the Governor’s assent.
Internet ban
Deborah said the state’s prolonged internet shutdown in Garo Hills had inflicted widespread inconvenience and hardship” on businesses, students, health services and banks, and warned that restoring connectivity must not be followed by further arbitrary cuts.
“I learned just now that they are lifting the ban,” Marak told reporters.
“In this era one cannot stay without internet. It is not a luxury but a necessity.”
She said traders in Tura, Williamnagar, Baghmara and North Garo Hills faced losses from disrupted payments and supply chains, while students missed online classes and examination updates.
“Health services and emergency communication are affected, putting lives at risk,” she said.
Calling law‑and‑order restrictions understandable for hours or a few days, Marak said extending the blackout for more than a week is excessive and raises questions about governance.
