Meghalaya State Assembly rejects Garoland resolution

The state assembly in Meghalaya on Tuesday rejected a resolution aimed at creating a separate state of Garoland in the western part of the state.

Garo National Council (GNC) member Clifford R. Marak had moved the resolution.

The GNC has been demanding creation of Garoland for over two decades.

Marak said creating Garoland would address the issue of improved economic development and ease linguistic barriers that currently exist between the Garo Tribe and the Khasi-Jaintia Tribes inhabiting eastern Meghalaya.

He was supported by senior Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) legislator, Hopingstone Lyngdoh, who demanded the bifurcation of Meghalaya on grounds of major differences existing in language, culture, customs, traditions, local governance and land holding system.

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Roytre Christopher Laloo said any division of the state would increase the social and economic vulnerability of the people.