Garo leaders slam Rabha bodies for opposing Garo council

From a Correspondent

Boko, Jan 7: Garos in South Kamrup and Goalpara districts have strongly opposed the view of Rabha organizations. Various Rabha organisations, including the All Rabha Students’ Union (ARSU) have opposed the Assam Government’s proposed move to form an autonomous council for the Garos with the Garo-domited villages of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC).

A public meeting was organized by the Garo tiol Council, Shantipur unit at Shantipur on Wednesday where various leaders and headmen of the Garo-domited villages strongly condemned the statement of ARSU president Ramen Sing Rabha. The meeting was attended by Benedict Alok Areng, president of GNC, Kamrup and Goalpara, Anindra Marak, president, GNC, Kamrup district and many others.

They said that if the Rabhas could get an autonomous council then why could not there be an autonomous council for the Garos?  “Garo is an independent community. Garo people have their own language, customs, religious and customary laws.  The Assam Government should have considered this factor before it included the Garo-domited villages in RHAC. Inclusion of Garo villages in RHAC was a crimil conspiracy against the Garo community. Now Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has taken the initiative to address our problem and definitely we welcome it,” said the Garo leaders.

Garo leader Jeckling Sangma alleged that since 2005 the Rabhas had tried to domite the Garo tribe with the help of former Congress minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and due to that commul riots between Garos and Rabhas took place at Goalpara district. Again, when the Government of Assam was considering seriously tofulfill the demand of the Garos, ARSU and Sarma were conspiring to prevent this from happening, he further alleged.

 “It is our right to have an autonomous council. Already we have registered a case against validity of RHAC in Gauhati High Court,” said the Garo leaders.