Shillong, July 08: A meeting held between Shri. Raashid Alvi, Ex-MP Adviser, to the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training, (BPST), and Bah John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board(MSPB), Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, Spokesperson Federation of Khasi States. on Friday 5 July 2013, after carefully reading the IOA & AA, expressed surprise to the fact that the commitments of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement -IOA & AA ) enterered into between the Government of India and the 25 Khasi States on 17 tarik August 1948, were yet to be fulfilled.
He also stated that the status of the Khasi States were similar to Jammu & Kashmir, and was surprised that these commitments did not find mention within the Constitution of India, and also found it surprising that in the past as a member in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, this matter has never been raised by MPs of Meghalaya.
He urged the Chiefs to follow up with the Government of Meghalaya, to positively respond to the letter dated 18 July 2012, sent from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India seeking views from the State Government on the demands of the Khasi States for a partyless Council for the Chiefs of Meghalaya.
He extended his invitation to the Chiefs of Meghalaya to New Delhi so as to help in pursuing the matter with the Government of India.(SP News)
