Shillong, Oct 19: The Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) spokesperson Ryan Ch Marak on Tuesday said there is need of a true patriot from among the political leaders for pursuing the demand for a separate Garoland.

“The Garos of Garoland need to be governed, developed and other supplements, be made by its own people,” Marak said in a statement.

He said that in so far as the different regions of Garoland (Achik Asong) are concerned, the hardships faced by the community can be seen due to not getting a separate Garoland state.

Marak further alleged political manipulation on the demand for Garoland under the “garb of a good shepherd.”

“If the political party says about the aspiration of Garo’s for Garoland, I believe the beating of the heart for Garoland is more than proof. The Garoland needs a true patriot from among the political leaders,” he asserted.

Stating that the Garo community since time  immemorial has been aspiring for a separate State because of various issues at different levels, Marak said after the liberation from Assam to Meghalaya the sentient leaders who fought for Garoland state were Achik Liberation Matgrik Army (ALMA), for Greater Garoland the Garo Student’s Union (GSU), from among the Political Party the Garo National Council (GNC), then came the Matgriks who took up arms for Garoland such as Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), in the latter part of the struggle with arms came the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA).

He said the present body, representing the sentiments and aspirations of the Garo Community fighting tooth and nail for the separate state based on the Constitution of India under the State Reorganisation Act 1956 is the Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC).