Rally in Delhi for creation of Garoland

Staff Correspondent

Shillong, June 6: In a bid to press the Government and re-enforce the demand for a separate Garoland state out of Meghalaya, Garo people from all the four corners have travelled over 2000 kms to stage a protest rally at Parliament Street, New Delhi today. The protesters, attired in Garo traditional costumes, appeared to be in high spirit.

The protest rally was spearheaded by the Garo Hills State Movement Committee (GHSMC) and was joined by the Mothers’ Union, the Garo Students Union and NGOs of Garo inhabited areas.

Meghalaya being a VI Scheduled state, the rally was also attended by the many Nokmas who are the owners of the land. The demonstrators raised slogans “No State No rest”, “We want Garoland” “A’chik A’song tangbangchina”. Nikman Marak, Chairman GHSMC dressed in a Garo traditional attire spoke during the dharna. He ardently pledge for a separate Garoland state. He told that the demand for Garoland is now more than a century old beginning in the 19th century during Late Sonaram Sangma’s times. Further, Roger Benny Sangma, a Garo youth leader wearing Garo Pajar also spokes during the protest meet. He told the crowd that the law and the Constitution allow for the creation of a separate Garoland state in sync with States Re-organisation Act,1956.