Council member faces public ire over facebook post

FROM A CORRESPONDENT
Tura, June 22: A member of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council Sofior Rahman has sparked off anger in Garo hills following his statement on facebook, which has “commul overtone”. 
Rahman had said in the statement that Garo hills does not belong to the indigenous people but is the land of the Hindus and Muslims. 
In 2015 Rahman won the council election as independent candidate from Balachanda constituency in West Garo Hills. After being with the tiol Peoples’ Party (NPP), he had shifted his loyalty to BJP last year. Recently, he was elevated to the post of chairman in BJP’s Minority Morcha. 
He has distance himself from the controversy and term the post as “fake”. However, the facebook users in Garo hills are not willing to buy his statement as earlier also he had made derogatory statements against the hill people. 
“Someone has opened a fake account to post such comments and defame me”, he said.
Hours after he also clarified on facebook that he have filed an FIR with superintendent of police, West Garo Hills to enquire the issue. 
Former BJP leader Berrd Marak has condemned the statement made by Rahman. “It is disturbing that he called the Garos as ‘Chinese’ and plan to play with the Garos when BJP and NPP come to power”, Marak said. 
Marak has urged the authorities concern to investigate the matter and book Rahman under appropriate section of law. He also asked the BJP and NPP to clarify if they share the same ideology as expressed allegedly by Rahman in facebook. “Such posts are aimed to disturb the peaceful coexistence of different communities in Garo hills for which it is condemned”, he added. 
Activist Mostafa Kabir from Rajabala said, “It is shameful that our MDC is bring bad me for the entire Muslim community of Garo hills. We are equally disturbed and angry for his statement. It is not acceptable and highly condemble”.   
Angry facebook users has asked Rahman to quit Garo hills with many others issue threat for dire consequences against him. “This is a very stupid comment. It is not only historically iccurate, but commul. It is not acceptable from a public representative”, said Samgar Sangma, a environment activists based in Tura. 
“This is too much. He should be barred from entering Garo Hills if it is proved the comments are his”, said Bappun Marak, a resident of Phulbari in West Garo Hills. 

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