Demand for Garoland state echoes on streets of Shillong.

Demand for Garoland state is once again doing the rounds with the Garo Hills State Movement Committee (GHSMC) staging a massive protest here on Wednesday to press for carving out tribal Garo inhabited areas from Meghalaya and Assam.

The GHSMC, a conglomeration of several Garo organisations, including regional political party Garo National Council (GNC), emphasised that its demand was on the linguistic lines of the States Reorganisations Act, 1956.

The participants walked with placards, with slogans written ‘Bye bye Meghalaya’ and festoons. They were vociferous about their demands and needs while explaining why a separate state should be made for the sub-tribes residing in the region.

GHSMC chairman Nikman Marak told ANI, “The demand for a separate state is our birthright as well as legal right. It is high time that the government recognises Garoland officially. In the last elections, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma spoke about the issue in Parliament but no substantial step was taken by the Centre on the issue. We are still struggling. We will continue to protest till all our demands are met by the government.”