Shillong : Member of Parliament from Tura, Saleng A. Sangma, has suggested that the recent unrest in Garo Hills, which led to the postponement of the election to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), could possibly be politically motivated.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the Governor of Meghalaya, C. H. Vijayashankar, Sangma said the situation could have turned much worse if not for the timely intervention of the Meghalaya Police.
He expressed appreciation for the police department, stating that they handled the situation very well and prevented the unrest from escalating further. Sangma also said that various government departments worked together to calm the situation in the region.
When asked whether he would demand an inquiry into the incident, the MP said he would not press for it at the moment, adding that the law would take its own course.
However, Sangma raised questions about what triggered the violence in a region that is usually known for being peaceful. He noted that both Garo Hills and Meghalaya are generally calm areas, but suggested that someone might have instigated the unrest.
According to him, it is difficult to determine whether the situation was politically motivated or whether certain individuals tried to take advantage of the circumstances.
Sangma did not name any individual or organisation and refused to blame NGOs or political parties for the incident. Instead, he pointed out that the root cause lies in the absence of clear legal provisions.
He also expressed hope that peace would prevail in the region and said that consultations with local people would continue as discussions intensify over possible reforms to the rules under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India ahead of the rescheduled GHADC election.