SHILLONG/TURA:
The coordination committee of Garo National Council (GNC) and Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) took their demand for a separate Khasi-Jaintia and Garo states to New Delhi on December 14.
The demand was made under the umbrella of the Federation of New State Demand Committee.
For the HSPDP, the dharna was led KP Pangniang, president, and Executive Member of Khasi Hill Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Martle N Mukhim.
Pangniang said that they came to Delhi with their demand for a separate Khasi-Jaintia state with the hope that the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, will see and hear them and know about their demands.
“We the HSPDP for the last 35 years have demanded a separate state,” he said.
The HSPDP president said that the HSPDP and the Garo National Council have jointly clubbed a memorandum which has been signed together to bifurcate Meghalaya peacefully and mutual understanding.
This is for the first time the HSPDP is holding a dharna in New Delhi for their demand for a separate Khasi Jaintia state.
SEPARATE STATES
Advocates from across the country pitching for their respective separate states gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for a two-day sit-in that began on Wednesday and actively participating were members from across the political spectrum of Garo Hills demanding Garoland.
Leader of the Garo National Council political party and sitting MDC as well as Deputy Chief Executive Member of GHADC Nikman Ch Marak led a delegation to the protest where he spoke at length on the long standing demand of the Garos who have been politically fighting for their own state since the days of the Hill State Movement when the GNC spearheaded the movement on behalf of the Garos.
He spoke of the struggles and the need for the Garos to chalk their own future.
Supporting the demand of Garoland was former student leader and ex-CEM of GHADC Purno K Sangma and Garoland State Movement Committee chairman Balkarin Ch Marak and their supporters comprising men and women from Garo Hills.
The Garoland supporters exchanged views with their counterparts from other states including Tipraland (Tripura), Gorkhaland (Darjeeling) and Bodoland (Assam).