SHILLONG: Garo Students' Union (GSU) has threatened "drastic action" against Congress for its decision to field non-tribal candidates in two seats in the coming district council elections in Garo Hills.
GSU's Khasi Hills Zone president Sanjib Sangma on Tuesday termed the Congress decision as "unprecedented" and "against the interest of the indigenous community," saying the Union would take drastic action against the party and also not hesitate to boycott the elections, if necessary.
"Is Congress not aware of the fact that a district council is meant to protect the interests of indigenous people? Offering any party ticket to non-tribal people to contest the elections would undermine the very essence of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution," he said.
Congress on Monday announced its candidates for the district council polls in the State. They include two non-tribals - Shahajaman Sheikh and Fozibar Rahman - who will fight the February-10 GHADC elections from Balachanda and Shyamnagar constituencies respectively.
According to Mr Sangma, non-tribals are not eligible to contest or vote in district council polls.
"KHADC and JHADC do not allow non-tribals to contest elections or vote, why is Congress doing the opposite in Garo Hills? GSU would not forgive any party that puts up non-tribals as candidates for GHADC elections," Mr Sangma said.
GSU had earlier written to the GHADC authorities demanding deletion of names of non-tribal people from the Council electoral rolls.
Meanwhile, Congress defended its decision to allot party ticket to non-tribal persons, claiming that the party was only following the precedent that had been created in the past.
MPCC working president Deborah C Marak said though district councils were created under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for indigeneous population in the State, Congress could not deny party ticket to non-tribals who had been residing in Garo Hills for many years.
"If we have to really discontinue giving party ticket to non-tribals for elections to GHADC, a collective decision has to be taken on this matter by all the parties," Ms Marak added.
Source: http://www.theshillongtimes.com/
GSU's Khasi Hills Zone president Sanjib Sangma on Tuesday termed the Congress decision as "unprecedented" and "against the interest of the indigenous community," saying the Union would take drastic action against the party and also not hesitate to boycott the elections, if necessary.
"Is Congress not aware of the fact that a district council is meant to protect the interests of indigenous people? Offering any party ticket to non-tribal people to contest the elections would undermine the very essence of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution," he said.
Congress on Monday announced its candidates for the district council polls in the State. They include two non-tribals - Shahajaman Sheikh and Fozibar Rahman - who will fight the February-10 GHADC elections from Balachanda and Shyamnagar constituencies respectively.
According to Mr Sangma, non-tribals are not eligible to contest or vote in district council polls.
"KHADC and JHADC do not allow non-tribals to contest elections or vote, why is Congress doing the opposite in Garo Hills? GSU would not forgive any party that puts up non-tribals as candidates for GHADC elections," Mr Sangma said.
GSU had earlier written to the GHADC authorities demanding deletion of names of non-tribal people from the Council electoral rolls.
Meanwhile, Congress defended its decision to allot party ticket to non-tribal persons, claiming that the party was only following the precedent that had been created in the past.
MPCC working president Deborah C Marak said though district councils were created under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for indigeneous population in the State, Congress could not deny party ticket to non-tribals who had been residing in Garo Hills for many years.
"If we have to really discontinue giving party ticket to non-tribals for elections to GHADC, a collective decision has to be taken on this matter by all the parties," Ms Marak added.
Source: http://www.theshillongtimes.com/
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