Shillong, June 13: A delegation of Chiefs from the Federation of Khasi States, led by Bah John F Kharshiing, Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, & Spokesperson, Federation of Khasi States, met Shri. Pynshngainlang N Syiem, MLA & MDC, Chief Executive Member, Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Shillong, Shri. L Blah, MDC, EM i/c Elaka, KHADC, and the Joint Secretary, Elaka, KHADC, to discuss the recent letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking views and comments from the State Government, on the issues of the Federation of Khasi States, and to submit a Memorandum calling on the KHADC, to move a resolution to urge the State and Central Government to initiate fulfillment of the National Commitments as laid down in the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement and accepted by the Central Government on 17 August 1948, so that it is included within the Constitution of India through a special article similar to Article 370.
The delegation drew the attention of the CEM to the fact that The Federation of Khasi States, have been included within the Sixth Schedule and ironically have no representation within the District Council. The Chiefs urged Shri. PN Syiem, CEM KHADC to kindly move a resolution and or discussion during the coming KHADC session on this very important issue.
The delegation also submitted copies of official letters submitted by the Federation of Khasi States to the Chief Minister on the matter including the directives from National Commission for Schedule Tribes (NCST), from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, from Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, UPA and NAC, and also the letter from the National Commission for Human Rights (NHRC) which stated ‘ the Commission has examined the petition carefully and we find the matter within the Legislative competence of Parliament. The petitioner may approach the Government for redressal of their grievance’. The delegation also submitted a copy of the White Paper on Indian States, which was officially placed before the Constituent Assembly (Parliament) by Shri. Sadar Valabhai Patel, Dy Prime Minister, i/c Ministry of States, (now known as Ministry of Home Affairs) which included the Agreement executed by the Khasi States.
The Chiefs also informed that it was on this ground Late Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India who in his official speech, on 15 May 1989, while introducing Panchayati Raj Bill in Indian Parliament, stated quote ‘in Meghalaya there are Traditional Institutions of Self-Government which must be preserved’ unquote.
The CEM agreed to the suggestions for examining the possibilities of constitution of Regional Councils as per the provisions of the Sixth Schedule so as to provide constitutional space to the traditional institutions of Meghalaya, and stated that while on one hand this treaty was between the Government of India and the five Khasi States, on the other hand the Khasi States have been included within the Sixth Schedule, and said that the Executive Committee of the KHADC will look and carefully examine if these issues can be resolved within the proposed amendments.
Those who signed and attended the deliberations were Paiem N Syiemiong, Syiem of Hima Maharam, President Federation of Khasi States, Paiem K M Syiemlieh, Deputy Syiem of Hima Nongkhlaw, Dr BS Syiem, Syiem Hima Khyrim, Paiem T M Syiem, Deputy Syiem of Hima Mylliem, Paiem H Wahlang, Syiem of Hima Jirang, Bah H Lyngdoh Ryntathiang, Lyngdoh of Hima Lyngiong, Joint Secretary Federation of Khasi States, Bah NK Lyngdoh, Lyngdoh of Hima Mawphlang, Bah H Skhemlon, Sirdar of Hima Mawdon, Secretary, Federation of Khasi States, Bah Manikstar Umdor, Sirdar of Hima Pamsanngut, Bah Kodin Nongrum, Myntri of Hima Sohra, Bah W Syiem, Sirdar of Hima Nongpoh, Bah Alexius Kurbah, Sirdar Hima Marbisu, Bah L Jithod, Acting Sirdar of Hima Nonglait, Lyngdoh from Hima Nongkhlaw, The Secretary of Hima Nongspung, and Acting Chief of Hima Nongspung.(SP News)
