Shillong, May 10: The Spokesperson, of the Federation of Khasi States, and Chairman, The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, Shri. John F Kharshiing, submitted a memorandum on the proposed amendment to the Citizenship Act 1955, opposing the amendment and appealing to the Joint Parliamentary Committee to first enquire as to why the Solemn National Commitments to the Federation of Khasi States has till date not yet been fulfilled. A copy of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement 17th August 1948, was also submitted to the Hon’ble Members of the Parliamentary Committee.
The Federation of Khasi States informed the Joint Parliamentary Committee, that after a detailed hearing the National Commission of Scheduled Tribes in April 2012 issued a directive to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India, to take steps to incorporate the IOA & AA within the Constitution of India, however the MHA sought opinion from the Government of Meghalaya who in turn sought for views from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Councils(KHADC) since 3rd August 2012, and for which till date the KHADC has not yet responded due to conflicts of interest.
The Committee was informed The Tribal Indigenous Institutions of Self-Government under the Indigenous Chiefs (Syiem, Sirdar, Lyngdoh, Wahadar, Dolloi, and Nokma) of Meghalaya have been faced with numerous Legislative Atrocities since over six decades while administering their Executive, Legislative, and Judicial role and responsibilities within their territorial jurisdiction especially over Customary Laws over Land, Forest, Water, Revenue, and Mineral Resources etc.,
It was also stated that when the above issues have not been resolved even after numerous petitions this proposal to introduce The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Lok Sabha in July 2016 to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, violates the treaty agreements of 17th August 1948, infact the existing Citizenship Act 1955, is also in conflict with Customary Citizenship laws and customs within the jurisdiction and territories of the Chiefs of the Federation of Khasi States as the Khasi States have different categories of citizenship such as u i) u khun u hajar; ii) khun soh shnong; iii) khun-soh-syiem; and iv) u raiot; who have varying rights and privileges which may be different from village to village or Hima to Hima.
Shri. John F Kharshiing, made an appeal to the Joint Parliamentary Committee to seek a report from the Government of India, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, as to the specific grounds for their non-fulfillment of a solemn national commitment entered into with the Federation of Khasi States on 17th August 1948.
