Nongstoin, September 19, 2026: The All Khasi Hills Achik Joint Action Committee has warned of intensifying its agitation if the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) Government fails to address what it describes as discrimination against Garo residents of the Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts.
Committee leaders John D. Sangma, Manuel Ch. Marak and Zimitchris Marak raised the issue at a public meeting held at Malangkona in West Khasi Hills on Saturday. They claimed that around 5,000 Garo people are permanently residing across the Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi.
The Committee strongly opposed the compulsory use of Khasi in recruitment examinations conducted by District Selection Committees in the Khasi Hills. It demanded that Garo candidates be allowed to choose Garo as an optional language paper.
The leaders said their demand was not against the Khasi language or any community, but was aimed at ensuring equal opportunities for Garo candidates who may not have sufficient proficiency in reading and writing Khasi.
According to the Committee, candidates who perform well in the general examination could still be disadvantaged during the language-proficiency test because of the language barrier.
Citing Article 16 of the Constitution, which provides for equality of opportunity in matters of public employment, the Committee urged the State Government to review the recruitment policy and ensure that permanent Garo residents of the Khasi Hills are not denied employment opportunities.
The leaders also referred to the recognition of Khasi and Garo under Meghalaya’s official-language framework and questioned why Garo candidates should not be permitted to take the language paper in their mother tongue.
The Committee said it had already approached ministers and other constitutional authorities and had received assurances that the matter would be examined. However, it expressed dissatisfaction with the progress, alleging that earlier meetings had failed to produce any concrete outcome.
As part of its next course of action, the Committee said it would organise similar public meetings across the Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi to mobilise community support. It also warned that it could march to the State Secretariat if the Government failed to respond to its demands.
“We are not against any community. We are only demanding our constitutional rights and equal opportunity,” the Committee said, adding that it would continue to oppose what it considers discriminatory treatment of Garo candidates.
