Shillong, Oct. 29: The ultimatum served by the Garo Students? Union (GSU) to the MLAs of Garo hills has evoked mixed reaction from political parties as well as the public.

In a new twist to the controversy over restructuring the Meghalaya Board of School Education, the GSU yesterday set Sunday as the deadline for all the 24 MLAs of Garo hills to resign or face a ban.

Of the 24 MLAs from the Garo hills, the Congress has 14, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has seven, United Democratic Party (UDP) has one and two are Independents.

The ban was imposed a day after activists of the students? union allegedly stormed the official residence of state health minister Sayeedullah Nongrum and transport minister Debora Marak and demanded their resignations.

Nongrum, who represents the Rajbala constituency in West Garo Hills, said the ban could not prevent his right to move around freely. ?I have no problems with GSU or any organisations and they should not be having any problem with me, so why should I not go to my constituency??

He alleged that some newspaper reports had created ?misunderstandings? by claiming that he had been hostile to GSU activists who had gone to meet him in Shillong. ?I did not refuse to meet anyone. I was not at home when the students came to meet me,? he said. On the demand for his resignation, Nongrum said, ?I am willing to resign if all the 24 MLAs resign.?

Marak felt that the demand to resign would not solve the problem. She said the presence of MLAs from Garo hills was important in the Assembly during any discussion on the school board issue.

The NCP representatives are yet to come to a decision regarding the demand.