Shillong, March 2: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that the AD rules of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) cannot be changed overnight.

He was reacting to the demand of the NGOs not to allow non-tribals to take part in the upcoming elections to the GHADC, slated for April 9.

“The AD rules in GHADC right from inception allowed for non-tribals to take part in elections and till today AD rule prevails and this cannot be changed overnight. We respect the statement of the NGOs but they need to understand that this is a constitutional obligation and the state government cannot do blindly,” Tynsong told reporters on Monday.

Stating that the AD rules in Khasi and Jaintia Hills region is different from the GHADC, he said, “The District Council (was established) in the state way back in 1953…they keep amending AD rules according to the prescribed norms of the Sixth Schedule, so here as far as Khasi Jaintia is concerned, the AD rules has been amended.”

Asked, Tynsong said he is not aware of the reason behind the failure of the GHADC to amend its AD rules.

“Maybe they have a political or social agenda but I don’t know,” he stated.