Shillong, March 13 The Meghalaya unit of the BJP on Friday urged Governor C H Vijayashankar to convene a special session of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) to pass a resolution barring non-tribals from contesting or participating in the council elections.
A delegation led by state BJP president Rikman G Momin submitted a memorandum to the governor seeking urgent intervention to safeguard the rights and identity of indigenous tribal communities.
"The purpose of this session is to deliberate on and pass a resolution that bars non-tribals from participating in or contesting GHADC elections, thereby ensuring that the council remains a true custodian of tribal identity, culture and rights," Momin said.
The BJP leader said the GHADC, constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, was created to protect the social, cultural and political rights of tribal communities in Meghalaya.
"Allowing non-tribals to contest or participate in its electoral process undermines the very spirit of the Sixth Schedule and dilutes the constitutional safeguards meant for indigenous people," he said.
The party also proposed that the resolution be given statutory backing by amending sub-clause 1(a) of Rule 128 of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous District Council Rules, 1951.
Under the proposed amendment, a candidate or voter must be "a citizen of India and a Scheduled Tribe of Meghalaya as per the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950", the memorandum stated.
"This measure will not only uphold the sanctity of the Sixth Schedule but also reinforce the constitutional commitment to protect the rights and identity of the tribal communities of Meghalaya," Momin said.
The BJP expressed hope that the governor would take appropriate steps to safeguard the interests of indigenous people and ensure that the GHADC continues to function as a representative institution of the tribal population.
The demand comes in the wake of recent violence in parts of Tura in West Garo Hills district following protests over the issue of the eligibility of candidates in the GHADC polls.
The unrest saw incidents of arson, vandalism and clashes in parts of the town, resulting in the death of at least two persons and injuries to several others, while a number of shops, establishments and vehicles were damaged.
Following the violence, the district administration imposed curfew in Tura and the surrounding areas to prevent further escalation of the situation.
In view of the prevailing law and order situation, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced the postponement of the GHADC elections that were scheduled to be held this coming April 10.