Shillong: Protesters and black flags greeted chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday as he was on his way to inaugurate an artificial turf football ground in Tura, the district headquarters of West Garo Hills.
Led by various pressure groups, people were seen lining up on the streets with black flags and resorting to sloganeering. “Go back, go back” resonated in the air. However, the protesters did not enter the venue of the function which was held at Chandmary playground.
Various groups have been protesting against the elevation of Rakesh A Sangma as Chief Executive Member of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC). The groups feel that Rakesh, who is not a pure Garo, should be replaced. They also sounded that the protests would continue till Rakesh was removed.
Meanwhile, the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) in the GHADC on Saturday nominated incumbent Deputy Chairman of the Council as the new Chief Executive Member to head the autonomous council.
However, it is still unclear if Rakesh has put in his papers as Chief Executive Member. Rakesh has been incommunicado for the past three weeks ever since the protestors launched agitational programme demanding for his removal .
Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Saturday accused the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) of being obsessed with money and power.
The Trinamool Congress He was condemning the adamant attitude of the NPP leadership towards the growing demand to oust the incumbent Chief Executive Member of the GHADC.
The situation that unfolded in Garo Hills following installation of CM @ConradSangma’s brother-in-law Rakesh A Sangma as CEM, GHADC could have been avoided but for the party leadership’s obsession with power & money – money is the root cause of all evil,” the Leader of Opposition tweeted.
