Our Special Correspondent
TURA:
According to the organisation, the hunger strike will be led the group’s senior members and former Meghalaya civil service and police officer Laben Ch. Marak.
“ACHIK has been demanding the state government to implement the Reservation Roster with a cut-off date retrospectively for a long time to which the government has lend a deaf ear,” alleged ACHIK general Secretary Thomas M Marak.
Preparing to lead the hunger strike, Laben Ch Marak, former MCS and former MPS, stated, “It is injustice to the A·chik people if the backlog policy is not even discussed by the present government. The amended Office Memorandum has induced more harm to Garo people rather than the benefits it deserves and the backlog which is needed remains to be an unnoticed.”
ACHIK has further alleged that its demand for Winter Capital in Tura has also been ignored by the government. “The people of Garo Hills have been given a stepmotherly treatment despite having chief ministers for decades from Garo Hills region and the organisation feels that it needs to cease. The organisation also calls the people of Garo Hills to join hands in the struggle and take part in the hunger strike. The organisation understands that the hunger strike may continue for longer period of time as the government may or may not respond. It, therefore, has requested volunteers to partake only if they are only ready to give away their life for the issues of the A·chik tribe,” further stated the group.
They also warned that the duration of the hunger strike will only depend upon the time taken by the chief minister to respond to the demands of ACHIK Society.