Push for winter capital gains steam: ASPF rallies Garo Hills leaders in Raksamgre

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 12, 2025

The Achik State Peoples’ Front (ASPF) intensified its campaign for regional empowerment by hosting its tenth Winter Capital Meeting on May 10 at Raksamgre in West Garo Hills. The gathering brought together community leaders, including Sorders and Nokmas from various villages, in a renewed call for unity and strategic development in the Garo Hills.

The highlight of the meeting was advocate Bernita Marak’s detailed presentation, which laid out the vision and implications of establishing a Winter Capital for the region. She emphasized how such a move could decentralize administrative power, boost local governance, and bring long-overdue infrastructure and attention to the Garo Hills. Her address served as both an educational session and a rallying cry for informed civic participation.

Balkarin Marak added emotional force to the discussion, warning that the region stood at a crossroads. He stressed that unity among the Garo people was no longer optional but essential if they were to carry forward the aspirations laid out by the founding leaders of the A•chik State movement.

The meeting concluded with a call to action by Witjeng Marak, president of the Constitutional Rights Forum (CRF). Urging the public to come together beyond village and factional lines, he said, “This is the time to act—not as individuals, but as a collective force to secure our future.”

The ASPF’s Winter Capital campaign appears to be gaining momentum, not just as a political demand, but as a broader movement for administrative parity, cultural identity, and regional pride.