Shillong, Meghalaya:
The ruling Congress in Meghalaya today turned down a resolution for creation of separate state for the Garos and Khasis maintaining the issue could disturb the socio-economic fabric of the state.
"I am sure that it is commonly recognised that we have achieved considerable success in our efforts to develop our state according to our own potential and to ensure peace, justice and equity to all sections of our people," Deputy Chief Minister R C Laloo told the House, dismissing the resolution.
"The issue for separate Garo land has also been demanded by many militant groups, even though ulterior motives were quiet different," the Deputy Chief Minister said, adding, "It is more appropriate to have civilised discussions over the matter than take to arms or resort to agitation straightaway without availing of the Constitutional means."
"We have consciously encouraged a policy of bringing in the administration closer to the people, improve the connectivity between district headquarters, get to the root cause of militancy which caused immense hardship to the people," he said.
Buoyed by the Centre's separation of Telangana, Garo National Council's lone legislator Clifford Marak moved a resolution for creating separate state for the Garos, a move which was backed by Hills' State People Democratic Party.
Pointing out that successive governments have taken many important steps to create a policy framework which sought to afford equal opportunity to all sections of people in the state, Laloo said the scourge of insurgency is one of the factors that caused a major setback to progress of Garo Hills.
"Militant groups have mushroomed in the region and have resorted to reckless violence which caused immense hardship to the people living there," the minister rued.
Claiming that the state has made serious effort to resolve the issue of insurgency, he said, "Negotiations were held with some outfits and settlements were reached.
Unfortunately some elements from them broke away and formed new ones."
"We have again reached an understanding with ANVC and ANVC (B) (for) which the approval of the agreed text of settlement from the Union government is awaited," he said.
"Further splitting may only increase the social and economic vulnerability for our people, without yielding any substantial gain in the long run," he said.
Questioning the motive of the division of a state on the basis of a tribe, Laloo said, "Regions of geographical units to tribes to sub-tribes to communes to clans and sub-clans; where does the true identity of a person or group lie?"
"I trust the collective wisdom of the House says in saying No," Laloo said.
Admitting that there are many challenges which confronted the state, he said that some pockets have remained relatively backward and we need to address this issue which was already factored this in our new paradigm of development.