Tura, Jan 4: In the face of protests by student and social groups targeting the new CEM of GHADC, Rakesh A Sangma, questioning his ethnicity and terming him a non-tribal, the Agitok clan of the Garos, to which Rakesh A Sangma belongs, has come out in open support for him.
The Agitok clan from Boldamgre village of South West Garo Hills, birth place of CEM Rakesh Sangma’s mother Gracie Margareth A Sangma, has strongly condemned the ongoing attack on his tribal identity by groups like the Garo Students Union , FKJGP, AYWO, ADE and FAF.
The protesting organisations staged two days of non-cooperation movement shutting down Garo Hills on Thursday and Friday demanding the removal of Rakesh A Sangma from the CEM’s position claiming that he is not a Garo, on account of his father being from a different community.
On Thursday, the Agitok clan held a meeting in Boldamgre and issued a public statement clarifying Rakesh Sangma’s position and extending its support to him.
“Attacking the ethnic and tribal status of Rakesh Sangma despite him being born of a Garo mother is an insult on his family and the entire Agitok mahari. We strongly condemn the ongoing attack on him,” the Agitok clan announced and accused his attackers of giving false stories about the new CEM to discredit him.
Adding further, they stated that, “Rakesh’s mother is Gracie Margaret A Sangma and she was born in our Boldamgre village to Late Willington M Marak and Late Idini Agitok Sangma. Rakesh is the eldest son of Gracie Margaret and his mother is a member of the Agitok clan and as per the Garo custom and matrilineal system any child born of a tribal mother is deemed a tribal.”
The Agitok clan also gave a brief history on the family of Rakesh Sangma mentioning that his mother came to Tura from Boldamgre to pursue her education in Tura Christian Girls School and later went on to work at Tura SE office of PHE Department.
Rakesh Sangma, the clan informed that he was born in Tura civil hospital , did his schooling in Tura and completed his graduation from Guwahati Commerce College.
“He married the daughter of Late Admiral K Sangma, former minister, and his wife is also the granddaughter of Late Bhimsing R Marak, former CEM of GHADC.
The Boldamgre Agitok clan concluded their public statement by urging those doubting Rakesh Sangma’s tribal status to approach the clan for any clarification.
