Nagaland Garo Tribal Council objects to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s reported ‘migrant’ remark on the Garo community
DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Garo Tribal Council (NGTC) has expressed concern over Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s reported reference to the Garo community as “migrants” during his address at an event in Kohima village.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the NGTC said the remarks, which appeared in local dailies on October 31, had hurt the sentiments of the Garo community in Nagaland.
The council maintained that the Garos were also an aboriginal community of Dimapur district and said their historical roots in the region dated back to time immemorial. It cited Darogapathar, established in 1811, as the oldest recognised Garo village in Nagaland and one of the oldest villages in and around Dimapur district.
According to the council, there are currently five Garo villages in Nagaland, all concentrated in Dimapur district: Darogapathar (1811), Eralibill (1910), Dubagaon (1910), Ekranipathar (1942) and Samaguri (1951).
Also read: IMDH row: Mokokchung CSOs to rally on November 16
It also pointed out that members of the community reside in Dimapur town, Padumpukhuri village in Chümoukedima district and Kohima district, among other places, including areas where they do not have a separate permanent village.
The NGTC further stated that the Garos are constitutionally recognised as a Scheduled Tribe in Nagaland under the Constitution (Nagaland) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1970.
The council said historical identity and constitutional recognition should not be questioned through generalised statements. It added that protecting the rights and identity of indigenous Naga communities should go hand in hand with respecting the history and legitimate rights of other tribal communities.
The NGTC urged the Chief Minister and concerned authorities to exercise sensitivity and fairness when making public statements concerning the history, identity and settlement of minority tribal communities.